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Massachusetts Institute of Technology's class ring, often called the Brass Rat, is a commemorative ring for the graduating class of students at MIT. The ring is redesigned each year by a committee of MIT students. The class ring has three main sections: the bezel, containing MIT's mascot, the beaver; the MIT seal (seal shank); and the class year (class shank). The side surfaces of the current ring design show the Boston and Cambridgeskylines. An MIT campus map and the student's name are engraved on the inner surface. On earlier versions, the Great Dome and Building 10 facade were featured on each shank, with 'MIT' under it on one side and the class year on the other.
The MIT Brass Rat. Every college ring tells a story, but for some institutions, that story is part of a beloved tradition. The history of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) senior ring, known as the Brass Rat, dates back to 1929. The Brass Rat is the class ring of MIT- a beloved tradition and something that MIT alumni hold dear for years after they graduate. The brass rat is coming for the Class of 2019.
The phrase 'Brass Rat' is derived from the alleged resemblance of the gold (hence brass-like appearance) beaver to a rat. Among other reasons the beaver was chosen as mascot (and therefore for the front bezel of the ring) because it is an American animal, and considered to be 'the engineer of the animal world'.[1] The ring is not literally made of brass, and has typically been made in various alloys of gold, platinum, or stainless steel ('The Stainless Steel Rat').
- 1Tradition
- 5Sightings
Tradition[edit]
The Brass Rat is traditionally worn on the right hand with the Beaver 'sitting' on the wearer until graduation.[2] This represents the hardships imposed on students at MIT.[citation needed] In addition, the skyline of Boston is facing the student, representing the outside world awaiting.[citation needed] After graduation, the ring is turned around, and the Cambridge skyline is visible to the graduate, as a reminder of times spent at MIT.[3]
Ceremonies[edit]
The undergraduate ring is designed and presented in the sophomore year of each class.[4] The design is unveiled during the Ring Premiere in the start of the spring term, which is followed months later by the Ring Delivery in the same term.[citation needed] The latter has been a tradition since 1999 (Class of 2001), and is typically a formal occasion.[5] Ring Delivery ceremonies have been held on a harbor cruise,[6] at prestigious restaurants,[7] and at the Boston Public Library.[8]
Ring elements[edit]
Although parts of the ring change each year, typically the MIT seal is on one shank of the ring, and a depiction of the Great Dome is on the other side. The 2008 Brass Rat was the first in recent years to revert to the original style of the ring, placing the seal and Dome above the 'MIT' and '08' respectively.[9] The 2010 Brass Rat was the first to incise the 'MIT' and '2010' on the shanks of the ring.[10][11] The tradition of the skylines began with the Class of 1990 ring,[12] for which the mold process in manufacturing was altered from 3 pieces to 5 pieces. The change was not followed by the Class of 1991,[13] but resumed and has continued since the Class of 1992's ring.[14]
History[edit]
An excellent summary of the history can be found at the MIT admissions site, with photos of most of the rings.[15]
The ring was first proposed in 1929 and labeled the 'Standard Technology Ring'.[16]
- Standard Technology Ring Images
- Bezel (1930)
- Shank (1930)
In the spring of 1929, C. Brigham Allen, President of the class of 1929, appointed a ring committee consisting of one member of each of the classes of 1930, 1931, and 1932. The committee was headed by Theodore A. Riehl, and its sole purpose was to provide a ring which the Institute Committee would approve as the Standard Technology Ring. In October the committee submitted its first detailed report to the Institute Committee and requested a decision as to whether the Institute Dome or the Beaver should be used on the face of the ring. This precipitated a vigorous discussion concerning the exact status of the Beaver as the Institute mascot. Investigation showed that, on January 17, 1914, President Maclaurin formally accepted the Beaver as the mascot of the Institute at the annual dinner of the Technology Club of N.Y. Lester Gardner (SB, 1898) explained the decision:
'We first thought of the kangaroo which like Tech, goes forward in leaps and bounds ... Then we considered the elephant. He is wise, patient, strong, hard working and like all [students] who graduate from Tech, has a good tough hide.
But neither of these were American animals. We turned to William Temple Hornaday's textbook, The American Natural History: A Foundation of Useful Knowledge of the Higher Animals of North America (1906) and instantly chose the beaver. As you will see, the beaver not only typifies the Tech [student], but his habits are peculiarly our own. Mr. Hornaday says, 'Of all the animals in the world, the beaver is noted for his engineering and mechanical skill and habits of industry. His habits are nocturnal—he does his best work in the dark.'[1][17]
There was no record of any action having been taken by the Institute Committee so that the body went on record as approving the Beaver for the official mascot of Technology. Opinion was still divided on the question of Dome versus Beaver, but with the realization that many schools had domes somewhere similar to Technology's, the Institute Committee decided to use the Beaver on the face of the ring. The Dome lent itself particularly well to use on the shanks.
Since that time, subsequent classes have appointed a Ring Committee to design their own MIT ring. The goal of these committees has been to create a ring that keeps the design that is unmistakably the MIT ring, yet introduce changes that will allow that ring to always be identified with their class.[4] This tradition has developed throughout the years producing one of the most cherished symbols of an MIT education that is recognized worldwide.
With the spread of economical computer numerical control and then 3D printing (both are technologies which were pioneered by MIT people) throughout the jewelry industry, the cost of producing custom designs each year has dropped dramatically. As a result, ring designs have changed more radically from year to year, as designers have taken advantage of greater flexibility in producing new jewelry dies.
Grad Rat[edit]
The Graduate Student ring, or 'Grad Rat', is redesigned every five years when the production contract expires.[18] The Grad Rat was essentially unchanged for 73 years until its first major redesign in 2003.[19] Unlike the undergraduate ring, the Grad Rat design (starting with the 2003 design) is personalized according to the department in which the graduate student resides and to the degree to be received (i.e., PhD, ScD, SM, etc.).[18] The 'third' new Grad Rat design was unveiled in Fall 2013 with some controversial elements, such as the inclusion of the commercial Dropbox logo and removal of any reference to the unofficial IHTFP motto.[20]
The Grad Rat has typically been less popular among graduate students at MIT than the Brass Rat is with undergraduates, with as few as 30% of graduate students opting to buy the ring compared with 85% of undergraduates who purchase the Brass Rat.[21] However, in recent years the Grad Rat has been gaining in popularity among graduate students.[22] Factors contributing to the increasing popularity of the Grad Rat include the aforementioned personalization, increased visibility and marketing, and perhaps most importantly the ability to specify these personalizations (including major, graduation year, and degree) without extra charges.[citation needed]
Undergrad Brass Rat[edit]
The ring is offered in several sizes, in various goldpurities: 10, 14, or 18 carat (42%, 58%, or 75% gold alloy), as well as white gold and Celestrium (jeweler's stainless steel). A typical ring, medium size and 14-carat gold, would cost US$616 in 2010 (Class of 2012 ring).
Sightings[edit]
MIT hacks[edit]
- A giant Brass Rat was precision manufactured to fit the barrel of a cannon from Caltech's Fleming House, which had been appropriated in an MIT hack on April 6, 2006.[23][24] The 21-pound (9.5 kg) ring was machined from solid aluminum under computer numerical control, and then gold-plated before being fitted around the cannon and secured with four set screws.[25] The Brass Rat was reclaimed before the cannon's return, and is now in the collection of the MIT Museum. In 2011, the artifact was on display as part of the MIT 150 year-long exhibition commemorating the 150th anniversary of MIT's founding charter.
- A cast bronze Brass Rat was temporarily attached to a finger of the John Harvard statue in Harvard Yard in May 1979.[26][27] The statue itself had been sculpted in 1884 by Daniel Chester French, an MIT alumnus.
Film appearances[edit]
- Stir Crazy: Inmate Grossberger was played by Erland Van Lidth De Jeude, an MIT graduate in Course VI (Electrical Engineering and Computer Science), while wearing his Brass Rat.[28]
- Iron Man: Lieutenant Colonel James 'Rhodey' Rhodes (played by Terrence Howard) and Tony Stark (played by Robert Downey, Jr.) both wear the Brass Rat, visible on their fingers.[29]
- Ghostbusters (2016): Scientist/Ghostbuster Erin Gilbert can be seen wearing a rather large Brass Rat in several scenes, and later wears an MIT sweatshirt.[30]
Returned or recovered rings[edit]
- In 2011, a Grad Rat was returned to MIT. It was amongst the personal effects returned to the family when PFC Stephen Adams was killed in action in 1968, but no one in the family could identify a connection between Adams and MIT. The ring remains in the possession of the Institute until the owner can be identified.[31]
- Several alumni have had lost rings returned through the MIT Alumni Association.[32][33][34]
- When Brass Rats have appeared in on-line auctions, alumni have been known to bid prices beyond the value of the gold contained in the ring.[35]
References[edit]
- ^ ab'Shiny new beaver mascot has debut'. MIT News Office. 10 May 2000. Retrieved 29 December 2006.
- ^Rudolph, Kate (12 August 2014). 'Leaving a Mark'. MIT Admissions (blog). Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^Grad Rat // Design / IndexArchived 2010-07-10 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ abMihalik, Aaron D. (7 March 2000). 'Mens et Women: 2002 Brass Rat Features Woman on Ring'. The Tech. 120 (11). Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^Bushak, Nick (29 April 2008). 'Class of 2010 Celebrates Delivery Of Rings at Moakley Courthouse'. The Tech. 128 (22). Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^Jeffreys, Katie (11 May 1999). 'Class of 2001 Celebrates Brass Rat'. The Tech. 119 (26). Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^LeBon, Lauren E. (24 February 2004). 'Ring Features Secret Message, Nod to Stata'. The Tech. 124 (7). Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^'In Short'. The Tech. 130 (23). 30 April 2010. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^Thibault, Marie Y. (14 February 2006). 'Traditional Design, Seal Featured on 2008 Brass Rat'. The Tech. 126 (3). Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^Wang, Lulu (19 February 2008). 'kerberos, Tunnel Map, Hidden '143' Appear on 2010 Class Ring'. The Tech. 128 (5). Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^'Ring Design: 2010 Brass Rat'. MIT Class of 2010 Ring Committee. 2008. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^'Advertisement: Class of 1990 Ring Ordering'(PDF). The Tech. 108 (11). 11 March 1988. p. 6. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^'Advertisement: Class of 1991 Ring Ordering'(PDF). The Tech. 109 (8). 3 March 1989. p. 2. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^'Advertisement: Class of 1992 Class Ring Ordertaking'(PDF). The Tech. 110 (10). 6 March 1990. p. 18. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^'History of the Brass Rat'. Retrieved 2016-07-20.
- ^'Ring History ('93 class webpage)]'. Archived from the original on 2006-12-14. Retrieved 2006-12-26.
- ^Hornaday, William T. (1914). The American Natural History: A foundation of Useful Knowledge of the Higher Animals of North America. I–Mammals. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. p. 212. OCLC869273608. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^ abNadal, Vanessa (28 October 2003). 'New Ring Unveiled By GSC'. The Tech. 123 (52). Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^McQueen, Robert (3 October 2008). 'Grad Rat Redesigned for First Time Since 2003'. The Tech. 128 (44). Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^Chen, Shirley (6 September 2013). 'Design of GradRat unveiled yesterday'. The Tech. 133 (35). Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^'Grad Rat Proves Popular'. Archived from the original on December 6, 2006. Retrieved 2006-12-28.
- ^Duvergne Smith, Nancy (20 March 2013). 'Is There a Grad Rat in Your Future?'. Slice of MIT. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^Peterson, Institute Historian T. F. (2011). 'Hacking into the new millennium'. Nightwork: a history of hacks and pranks at MIT (updated edition). Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press. pp. 8–13. ISBN978-0-262-51584-9.
- ^Elton, Catherine (April 19, 2006). 'Comedy on Campus: MIT takes on Caltech for prank distinction'. Boston Globe.
- ^'IHTFP Hack Gallery: Caltech's Fleming Cannon transported to MIT'. hacks.mit.edu. Retrieved 2019-05-20.
- ^Peterson, Institute Historian T. F. (2011). 'When MIT won the Harvard-Yale game: hacking Harvard'. Nightwork : a history of hacks and pranks at MIT (updated edition). Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press. pp. 181–182. ISBN978-0-262-51584-9.
- ^'Hack brings Yard Plate to campus'. 1990-09-14. Retrieved 2006-12-31.
- ^'Clip of Grossberger wearing Brass Rat from Stir Crazy'. Archived from the original on 2008-07-20.
- ^'MIT admissions article on Iron Man with production stills'.
- ^'A New Brass Rat on the Silver Screen'.
- ^'Vietnam Ring Mystery'. MIT Division of Student Life. 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-06-10. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^'Henry R. Nau '63: Return of the Ring'. MIT Alumni Association. 12 April 2007. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^'Steven A. Spura '76, SM '77: The Adventure of the Wandering Brass Rat'. MIT Alumni Association. 22 January 2009. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^Marcott, Amy (6 March 2009). 'The Rings that Return to Their Masters'. Slice of MIT. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
- ^Eschenbach, Stephen (1 July 2006). 'Brass Rat Tales'. MIT News Magazine. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
External links[edit]
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Hacking
![Rat Rat](http://brassrat.askmisterscience.com/04rat.jpg)
MIT culture distinguishes itself not only for its seriousness of purpose, but also for its unique sense of humor, as expressed through 'hacking.' Hacks at the Institute are elaborate but benign practical jokes, perpetrated anonymously on campus, around Cambridge, or even farther afield, and that amaze for their creativity, cleverness, and difficulty of execution. A 1958 prank in which the Harvard Bridge was measured in increments of fraternity pledge Oliver Smoot has achieved such fame that 'smoot' has been incorporated into the American Heritage Dictionary and is included as a unit of measure in Google Earth. The bridge still displays its quirky unit of measure today.
Although not officially sanctioned, hacks can be appreciated for their technical prowess and humorous digs at rival institutions, for example in the astonishing emergence of a large black weather balloon with MIT written all it over in the middle of a Harvard-Yale football game in 1982, or in the 2006 cross-country theft of Caltech’s Fleming Cannon. Other famous hacks involve rather large objects falling from building rooftops (the Baker House Piano Drop) or appearing where they don’t belong, most notably on MIT’s Great Dome, which over the years has been graced by a Hilltop Steakhouse plastic cow, a Campus Police cruiser, the Wright Flyer, an MIT fire truck, and the Apollo Lunar Module.
Pirate Certificate
Not content to just produce exceptional graduates in the usual fields of study, the Institute also offers its swashbuckling students the opportunity to become certified pirates. Students who complete four physical education courses—archery, fencing, pistol (or rifle), and sailing—are eligible to receive a Pirate Certificate, officially awarded by the Department of Athletics, Physical Education, and Recreation. In addition to receiving a tangible document printed on faux parchment, newly minted pirates are rumored to swear a secret oath. Although they are no longer lily-livered landlubbers, their pirating activities nevertheless are limited to “entertainment purposes only.”
Brass Rat
In a ritual long enjoyed by MIT undergraduates, a committee of sophomores gathers each year to design their class ring, which is ceremoniously revealed during the spring term. The history of MIT’s class ring dates back to 1929 when a student committee convened to design what is formally known as the “Standard Technology Ring.” Featuring a beaver on top (an industrious, nocturnal, American animal), the Boston and Cambridge skylines on the sides, and the MIT seal and dome on the shank, the ring also incorporates unique design elements related to each individual graduating class. Made of gold, the ring’s nickname, “the Brass Rat,” derives from its color—similar to brass—and the prominence of the beaver mascot—resembling a rat.
A concrete symbol of an MIT education, the distinctive Brass Rat is recognized worldwide and instantly identifies MIT alumni to one another, serving as a reminder of the bond that all MIT students share.
F.A.T. Chain Reaction
For 20 years, the Friday After Thanksgiving (F.A.T.) Chain Reaction has been a highly anticipated event that brings participants together to link their chain reaction devices in order to form one enormous, collaborative chain reaction, which is then set off as the culmination of the afternoon. Participants range from Girl Scout troops to artists and engineers, from MIT clubs to middle schools and family teams. More than 1,500 people attend this giant chain reaction each year.
MIT Mystery Hunt
The MIT Mystery Hunt is a puzzle hunt competition that takes place on the MIT campus every year in January. The hunt challenges each participating team to solve a large number of puzzles that lead to an object (called a “coin”) hidden somewhere on campus. The winning team gets to write the subsequent year’s hunt.
Mystery Hunt was launched in 1981 and is widely regarded as one of the oldest and most complex puzzle hunts in the world. It attracts more than 2,000 people every year and has inspired similar competitions at universities, companies, and cities around the world.
Pi Day
In true MIT fashion, the Institute typically releases admissions decisions on Pi Day (March 14), an annual celebration of the mathematical constant. Frequently, these admissions decisions are released at 6:28 p.m., which is known colloquially as “Tau time” (Πx2). An exception was made for the release time of early decisions on March 14, 2015—known as “Super Pi Day” as the date reflects the full first five digits of Pi (3.1415)—when admissions decisions were released at 9:26 a.m. in order to continue with the next three digits of Pi. MIT Admissions creates a humorous video to accompany the announcements and celebrate the tradition, and posts this to the MIT Admissions Blog.