Cairns told the Faculty Executive Committee Monday that steps have been taken in the past to stop the unsupervised bonfires. In 2007, there was a resolution passed that said bonfires are not sanctioned and not supported by the University.
“We’ve done some analyses of the injuries that occur and so forth,” Cairns said. “I will try to work with the students again — we’ve done that in the past — to really highlight what might seem like a fairly innocuous activity. If you don’t get hurt, it is. But if you do, it can be a devastating injury that lasts you a lifetime.”
The tradition began at Duke, but permits were always used there, Cairns said. At UNC, the bonfires are unsupervised.
Cairns said there have been injuries from the bonfires following basketball game wins.
“One of misperception is that they all happen that night,” Cairns said. “But in fact, those patients frequently take a couple of days to present. They may have an injury on their foot or their hand. Because the bonfire is dirty, it gets infected, and they come in with cellulitis several days later.”
Other members of Faculty Executive Committee, including Joe Ferrell, expressed concern about the bonfires.
“Part of the problem here is that it takes place on public property,” Ferrell said.
The committee is looking to take more action regarding the bonfires.
