In the early morning hours of November 18, 1999, Texas A&M University experienced a catastrophic event that quickly became one of the biggest media stories of the year. “The Bonfire,” a 90-year old campus tradition that involved construction of an enormous stack of logs to be burned as part of a much-anticipated and highly-revered campus ritual associated with the Aggies’ annual football game against the University of Texas (its staunch rival), had collapsed unexpectedly. The collapse would ultimately kill twelve and injure twenty-seven in one of the most significant tragedies in the history of American higher education. Thousands of rescue workers, university administrators, campus staff, students, alumni, and community volunteers became involved in rescue and recovery efforts. The A case provides a first-hand account of institutional response to this campus crisis, as seen from the perspective of Texas A&M President Ray Bowen. The case describes several aspects of the university’s response to the immediate crisis, implementation of emergency management protocols, and development of longer-term recovery plans.
Subjects: External Relations/Public Affairs, Crisis Management, Leadership, and Student Affairs
Setting: Large Public
Also available: The Bonfire Collapse at Texas A&M University (B)
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