Bonfire lights up Tarleton spirit
Brett Jacobs
Issue date: 10/29/09 Section: Campus Life
School spirit ignites at a respectful distance from the Tarleton bonfire, a tradition which has long since become a rally to get students fired up for Homecoming.
As tradition dictates, the bonfire is dedicated to L.V. Risinger. In 1939, students defended their bonfire against a North Texas Agricultural College air raid which was seeking to light the fire early. Risinger hurled a two-by-four into the propeller of the rival plane.
All Photos Taken by Bobbie Haire/ The J-TAC
"The passengers of the disabled aircraft were given haircuts in a style that left them with a patch of hair that bore a striking resemblance to the Tarleton Block T. Then they were allowed to walk back to their campus, that was only approximately 120 miles away," Student Government Association House speaker Sawyer Baldridge said.
Beating the drum, according to Assistant Vice President of Student Life Rusty Jergins, "reminds other schools that students are keeping watch and ready to defend the school from them." The beating of the drums is done with pieces of wood.
This year the Plowboys continued their long-standing tradition of assembling the bonfire. The completion of the 30 foot tall wedding cake design required over two weeks of work with construction beginning on Oct. 4.
Plowboys president Nathan Robinson said, "The bonfire is a good time for us to come together as brothers and get away from everything for a while." The task was not without obstacles, however, as continual rain created, "a real swamp down there. We were wet and sick," said Robinson.
Despite the challenges, the Plowboys can be proud to have brought together over 1,000 attendants to the burning in the name of school spirit and tradition.
Before the fire was lit, recently appointed President Dominic Dottavio gave a speech. Then organizational leaders and school administrators were recognized on stage.
Then the Plowboys and some other leaders made their way down a roped-off runway leading to the bonfire with torches in hand. One by one, they threw their torches into the massive three-tiered structure. Its size prevented all but two of the torches from landing above the walls of the second tier.
Once lit, the fire became a huge blaze, pushing students back until there was a perimeter around it and the crowd and fire were eventually divided by over 40 feet.
Junior Plowboy Justin Chambers described the work as "the best worst time of your life." Several members of the organization reported that they enjoyed getting together to do the project.
For more information about the tradition of L.V. Risinger Bonfire, visit http://www.tarleton.edu/~stuact/documents/PurpleBook.pdf.
As tradition dictates, the bonfire is dedicated to L.V. Risinger. In 1939, students defended their bonfire against a North Texas Agricultural College air raid which was seeking to light the fire early. Risinger hurled a two-by-four into the propeller of the rival plane.
All Photos Taken by Bobbie Haire/ The J-TAC
"The passengers of the disabled aircraft were given haircuts in a style that left them with a patch of hair that bore a striking resemblance to the Tarleton Block T. Then they were allowed to walk back to their campus, that was only approximately 120 miles away," Student Government Association House speaker Sawyer Baldridge said.
Beating the drum, according to Assistant Vice President of Student Life Rusty Jergins, "reminds other schools that students are keeping watch and ready to defend the school from them." The beating of the drums is done with pieces of wood.
This year the Plowboys continued their long-standing tradition of assembling the bonfire. The completion of the 30 foot tall wedding cake design required over two weeks of work with construction beginning on Oct. 4.
Plowboys president Nathan Robinson said, "The bonfire is a good time for us to come together as brothers and get away from everything for a while." The task was not without obstacles, however, as continual rain created, "a real swamp down there. We were wet and sick," said Robinson.
Despite the challenges, the Plowboys can be proud to have brought together over 1,000 attendants to the burning in the name of school spirit and tradition.
Before the fire was lit, recently appointed President Dominic Dottavio gave a speech. Then organizational leaders and school administrators were recognized on stage.
Then the Plowboys and some other leaders made their way down a roped-off runway leading to the bonfire with torches in hand. One by one, they threw their torches into the massive three-tiered structure. Its size prevented all but two of the torches from landing above the walls of the second tier.
Once lit, the fire became a huge blaze, pushing students back until there was a perimeter around it and the crowd and fire were eventually divided by over 40 feet.
Junior Plowboy Justin Chambers described the work as "the best worst time of your life." Several members of the organization reported that they enjoyed getting together to do the project.
For more information about the tradition of L.V. Risinger Bonfire, visit http://www.tarleton.edu/~stuact/documents/PurpleBook.pdf.
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