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Anticipation grew as Bruins filled Wilson Plaza Thursday night
at the annual Beat �SC Parade and rally, but
students were quickly disappointed when it was announced that the
annual bonfire had been canceled because of weather concerns.
University officials said that because of fire-hazard alerts in
the area, they replaced the bonfire with a display of confetti and
strobe lights.
Steve Jurado, assistant fire marshal for UCLA Environment,
Health and Safety, explained that the rally committee and UCLA fire
marshal�s office decided not to have the bonfire
because of 20- to 30-mph winds.
�The fire would be at its worst possible
action,� Jurado said. �Hills and
mountains surround us. UCLA is responsible for the surrounding
community and city.�
SLIDESHOW
Click here to see a slideshow and audio from the Blue and Gold
Rally.
Danica Johnson, a second-year history and political science
student, said she felt let down with the conclusion of the
evening�s events.
�The parade and rally was fun, but not having a
fire was really disappointing,� she said.
The crowd of students at the rally reacted similarly. Confetti,
instead of flames, streamed from the pile of wooden planks in the
center of Wilson Plaza, and instead of chants of
�Beat �SC,�
Bruins yelled, �Light that
fire!�
By 11:30 p.m., two Facebook groups had already formed dedicated
to students� disappointment over the lack of a
fire.
Jurado said officials only cancel the fire under extreme
circumstances.
Students shouted the 8-clap with passion and excitement as their
attention was directed toward the bonfire location. Eager to feel
the warmth of the roaring fire, students were quickly disappointed
when it was announced that the bonfire had been canceled.
Before this year, in the seven years Jurado has been working at
UCLA, the fire had never been canceled. While he said the decision
was disappointing for everyone, he added that he needed to be
realistic and do what was safest for UCLA and the community.
The last time the fire was canceled was in 1999, out of respect
for several students who were killed at a similar bonfire at Texas
A&M University the same year.
The rally committee and fire department debated whether to
cancel the fire altogether, Jurado said.
�We wanted to keep it fun and enjoyable with an
alternative plan,� he said.
Confetti flew from the pile of planks for less than a minute,
and after rally MCs announced that the bonfire would not burn,
students quickly dispersed.
The yell crew attempted to lead the crowd in another 8-clap but
the passion that had filled the plaza only minutes earlier had
disappeared.
Though Johnson, who participated in the parade as part of the
Dance Marathon float, said she was upset about the bonfire, she
still enjoyed the evening.
�We performed our Morale Dance for the judges
and won �most spirited
float,�� she said.
Christina Long, a first-year undeclared student and Student
Alumni Association member, said the rally got her excited.
�I am more excited now for the game than I was
before,� she said. �I was excited
to see such a large turnout and high energy.�