"We believe our agenda is one that is very achievable," said Marc Barringer, co-chair of the Bonfire Coalition. "We set goals that are reasonable and expect to be well received."

The Bonfire Coalition is committed to working with Dr. Gates and his Administration to return Bonfire to campus as safely and as quickly as possible. The Coalition's agenda for this academic year first appeared in their weekly newsletter on Monday.

Since early February 2002, the Bonfire Coalition has been gaining support with current and former students.

"Everywhere I go, I am stopped by people asking about the possibilities of returning Bonfire to campus," Barringer said. "We realize that a solution will involve a willingness to compromise. We want to make sure that Bonfire itself is not forgotten and that we can re-light the tradition safely and soon."

Many students have publicly complained that campus unity has decreased since 1999, the last time a Bonfire was built at Texas A&M.

"The Bonfire Coalition desires to do whatever we can to help Dr. Gates develop a plan to re-unite campus," Barringer stated. "We want to help bring a spirit of unity back to Texas A&M."

The Bonfire Coalition is planning activities throughout the Fall to bring attention to Bonfire's history and help those who do not have a clear understanding of Bonfire to understand its importance and place in Texas A&M's history.

"Bonfire is an event that was at Texas A&M for 90 years," Barringer stated. "It will always be part of our history and no matter what happens, we should always remember what Bonfire means."

Some members of the Administration have expressed concerns about returning Bonfire to campus. The Bonfire Coalition believes that they can present a plan that can work.

"We are in the middle of researching what other colleges and universities in America do for their bonfires," Barringer said. "There are options out there and through the collection of information from those who build and burn a bonfire, we believe we can present a feasible way to keep our tradition alive.

Currently, some A&M system schools burn a bonfire. The Bonfire Coalition believes that information gathered about how those schools, as well as other schools in the country, can lead to the return of the 90-year-old tradition in some form.