After a brief hiatus, the Homecoming bonfire is back and safer than ever.

The bonfire, which traditionally blazed after the Homecoming pep rally, was replaced with a fireworks display last year after Texas A & M’s towering bonfire toppled, killing 11 students.

Traci Gamblin, Panther Pride co-chair, said Homecoming Committee members decided to bring the bonfire back at the request of numerous students.

“It seemed like (students) liked that more,” she said. “We decided to bring back the tradition.”

However, Tim Granato, Panther Pride co-chair, said some concern was expressed over safety in bringing back the bonfire.

“The fire department wasn’t around two years ago, and it got kind of out of control,” he said. “We don’t want it to get out of hand, so we’re going to take any precaution that we can.”

Gamblin said the bonfire will be roped off with orange fencing, and Homecoming Committee members will act as security.

In addition, the fire department will be on hand to light and extinguish the fire, she said.

The pep rally and bonfire will take place at 8 p.m. Friday by the Lawson/Taylor basketball courts.

Gamblin said organizations participating in Homecoming were also told not to make any effigies, the dummy dressed in the opposing team’s jersey that gets thrown into the flames.

Granato said Homecoming Committee members made one effigy, and a football player will most likely throw it into the fire.

The purpose of the pep rally and bonfire is to get everybody excited and pumped up for the next day’s football game, he said. “With our team having so much success this year, hopefully that’ll draw more people out to the game.”

Gamblin said the agenda for the event includes an ROTC march, the Marching Blue playing “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the reintroduction of Homecoming king and queen, and performances by the Pink Panthers Dance Team and Eastern Cheer Team.

Granato said Coach Bob Spoo will introduce the football team.

“We’re trying to make it a campus-wide event,” he said. “We’re trying to get everyone involved-not just the greeks.”

Tiffany Scarcelli, Pink Panthers co-captain, said they will perform one routine with the cheerleaders, one with the football players and one by themselves.

She said the theme of the routines is “Bad Boys/Bad Girls.”

“It’s more fun music that people all know,” she said.

Scarcelli said her favorite part of the pep rally is having all the fans there.

“It’s a huge rush,” she said.