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Rivalry Week is (was) a fun time on campus. There is usually a buzz as everyone gets ready for the game and takes part in the activities during the week, and calling out ANYONE wearing red.
Also shout out to Bear Patrol, who should consider upping their patrols by a week, after the scumbags across town got to the Bear early.
You guys are the real MVP! RT @aseerali4: Guardians of the Bruin Bear pic.twitter.com/PPWFdKoon1"
— Jerry Neuheisel (@jerryneuheisel) November 20, 2014
One of those traditions is the Bonfire on Thursday night. The football team comes out, the coach will say a few words, and we get pumped up as we burn a pile of wood, that in previous years, used to be Tommy Trojan but apparently we need to be sensitive (sure, whatever) and is now just a pile of painted wood.
Coach Mora got into it:
#UCLA couldn't light it's Beat SC bonfire tonight. Jim Mora didn't care. https://t.co/Zx4nG6RXPM
— Edward Lewis (@EdwardLewisBSR) November 21, 2014
Yes, that's an F Bomb. Do we care? No.
What do we care about? There was no fire.
This isn't new - there have been occasions due to fire danger where the bonfire was not lit. This is understandable. However, this year, a group of students decided to sit on the wood pallets to protest the UC's decision to increase tuition over the next five years.
#UCPD are saying they will not light the #BeatSCBonfire tonight. Students are still sitting on the wood, bonfire events are going as planned
— Daily Bruin (@dailybruin) November 21, 2014
#UCLA rally can't light traditional bonfire bc of students protesting tuition hikes. pic.twitter.com/uNhqUTi7t4
— Jeff Michael (@JeffMichaelNews) November 21, 2014
Not everyone was happy with that decision:
"Ever since they ruined the bonfire I'm SO much more sympathetic to the protesters' cause!" - Nobody ever
— Michael Drell (@_mdrell) November 21, 2014
UCLA: where our Rivalry Week bonfire isn't going to happen because of protestors.
— Tyler (@tmorad22) November 21, 2014
No bonfire because protesters. I mean I'm with the cause but really? During the Beat SC bonfire?
— alan mendoza (@thehomie_alan) November 21, 2014
On the other side, there are the students that believe the message got out:
Protest with us! @ucla doesn't want us here- TOO BAD WE'RE NOT GOING #tuitionhikes #regents #uctuitionhikes #ucla #notwelcome #ucbonfire
— Maddalena Zarcone (@LenaGuilliette) November 21, 2014
#UCLA with the money we are paying, give us education, not entertainment @samhoff3: Bonfire protest continues pic.twitter.com/FlcEK6SlmK
— Maria Yefimova (@myefimova) November 21, 2014
Interesting when someone called her out on it though:
@Chuck1463 my point is these protests raise real issues that students & families will face, like increasing tuition/debt. SC rally can wait
— Maria Yefimova (@myefimova) November 21, 2014
In reality, no the rally CANNOT wait, as the game is this weekend, we have to contract with UCPD and the Fire Department for the safe lighting of the fire, and it made what could have been a unifying experience for freshmen and a final bonfire for seniors a disappointment.
One way to cure that disappointment:
Beating Southern Cal.
Go Bruins.