An excited buzz encompassed campus Saturday night as students stood outside the dorms, congregating before heading out to the Blue and Gold hockey scrimmage game. The parking lots were more full than usual as students, alumni and members of the community clamored to get a chance to see the game.

In front of the Patty center, ASUAF set up music and a barbeque while people waited in a line that extended down the stairs and curved around the sidewalk. Inside, around the hockey rink, fans packed the bleachers and continued filing in along the balcony well into the first half of the game. The hockey team split into two sides for a short game, with a skills competition for skating and shooting in between periods. The crowd chanted for each side as they skated onto the ice.

Fairbanks Lion's Club members circulated through the crowd selling 50/50 raffle tickets. The Lions Club sells raffle tickets at every game and gives half the money away to the winner, one fourth goes to the Lions club and the other fourth goes to the UAF Athletics Department.

"We raised $10,00 for scholarships last year," said Pepper Weimer, 45, dressed in a bright yellow vest and apron covered with pins.

Later, before the bonfire began, students walking from the dorms up the hill could see the parking lot transformed into a bonfire site. Visible from above the parking lot were the dancing lights of Alaska Gravity Works members who juggled fiery torches and devil sticks.

"They're like toys," said Richard Hallock, an enthusiastic performer. The performers are all volunteers who enjoy juggling, and they practice three days a week for about an hour. A crowd gathered around a man with a megaphone promoting a car-smashing fundraiser for RHA. This fundraiser, which cost only a couple of dollars, provided an opportunity to vent some anger and frustration by using a sledgehammer to beat on an old car.

Organizations from around campus had joined together and worked all day to make bonfire piles out of pallets. The University Fire Department had compiled pallets in the shape of a fire truck and spray painted it red. Lathrop and Stevens Halls built a sphinx and Greek life made the All Seeing Eye. The Honors Society built Stonehenge, and Moore and Skarland Halls had an impressive pile as well. All organizations were vying for the Big Ass Trophy, to be awarded to the pile with the highest flames on Tuesday night. Due to a fatal accident that occurred at Texas A & M at a similar bonfire event in 1999, the actual height of the piles was limited to 20 feet. The Orientation Leaders won an award for "most creative" with their fish pile.

The piles were covered with a gas and diesel mixture and were lit by a torch-brandishing Chancellor Jones who was clad in fire fighting gear. Flames reached into the air emitting an orange glow, and the cold weather prompted spectators to pack themselves as close as possible to a fence that kept them away from the fire. Others stood on cement parking barriers to watch the fire burn. The crowd circulated around, people greeted each other and compared their levels and means of intoxication. As the fire blazed, the crowd was active and friendly.

"This bonfire is a great tradition," said Pam Meadors, "It's a great way for everyone to get together. I think the tradition should go on forever."

As the fire died down, the crowd began to thin until the only a small remnant of the great hot fire and the loud and active crowd remained.