quote:
As for the canon. There was NO EXCUSE for firing while people were anywhere in the vicinity of the blast area.

I generally support the corps, and appreciate the history of A&M. But they do have a track record of getting so wrapped up in their own traditions that they cannot see the forest for the trees, and ebd up living in a time-warp bubble, essentially detached from present-day reality.

That is the root cause of what I see here. And in the context of what happened, it is totally unacceptable. No tradition is ever sacred enough to risk physical harm to anyone, let alone unaware visitors, to stay "on schedule".

If players are the vicinity of the business end of a cannon when the canon is supposed to be fired, guess what? The canon isn't getting fired at that moment. This is basic common sense, and unfortunately the corps has a history of eschewing it, in favor of preserving tradition, and that is exactly what happened yesterday.

This is found in any organization that values history and tradition. It happens. A part of life (fortunately there was no tragic loss of life or limb involved).

quote:
Sadly, the canon needs to go. And the cadets who fired it, and the corps leadership who built a culture that allowed students to actually think it was ok to fire at that moment need to be held accountable.

Disagree. All they need to do is change safety procedures and train appropriately. As EKG pointed out, the firing of the cannon as the team enters the field is a recent change implemented at mid-season. They did not change their procedures to take into account the presence of players and staff on the field during pre-game. This can easily be remedied.

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Posted by Krampus

Member since Nov 2018

5207 posts

Posted on 11/20/22 at 1:40 pm to Wolfhound45

quote:
Disagree. All they need to do is change safety procedures and train appropriately. As EKG pointed out, the firing of the cannon as the team enters the field is a recent change implemented at mid-season. They did not change their procedures to take into account the presence of players and staff on the field during pre-game. This can easily be remedied.

Respectfully disagree. But I appreciate the genuine discussion.

The cannon is a cannon. It is not on a training ground or firing range. It is in a civilian sports stadium surrounded by 100k+ people. The fact that the appropriate procedures to operate the cannon safely in a such an environment were ever, even once, not in place is 100% unacceptable.

The only way I can come around to keeping the cannon at games after this is if an addition is built into the stadium to house the cannon and crew, away from the field, players, and fans, where the possibility of passers-by getting in the way is essentially zero. Perhaps an elevated platform somewhere.

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