MIT class ring
Massachusetts Institute of Technology's class ring, often called the Brass Rat, is crafted each year by a student committee. 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 show the Boston and Cambridge skylines. A campus map and the student's name are engraved on the inner surface. The phrase "Brass Rat" is derived from the resemblance of the gold beaver to a rat. Among other reasons, the beaver was chosen as mascot (and therefore for the front bezel of the ring) because he is considered to be the engineer of the animal world[1].
The MIT class ring is large, conspicuous, and recognizable from a distance. Class of 1975 president William Wang said that there are "three recognizable rings in the world—the Brass Rat, the West Point ring and the Super Bowl Ring."[2]
Tradition
The Brass Rat is traditionally worn with the Beaver "sitting" or "shitting" on the wearer until graduation. This represents the hardships imposed on students at MIT. In addition, the skyline of Boston is facing the student, representing the outside world awaiting. After graduation, the ring is turned around, and the Cambridge skyline is visible to the graduate, as a reminder of times spent at MIT.
The undergraduate ring is designed and presented in the sophomore year of each class. The design is unveiled during the Ring Premiere, which is followed weeks later by the Ring Delivery. The latter is a tradition since 1999 (Class of 2001), and is typically a formal occasion. Ring Delivery has been held on a harbor cruise, at prestigious restaurants, and at the Boston Public Library (Class of 2008). Although parts of the ring change each year, there is typically the MIT seal on one shank of the ring, and a depiction of the Dome on the other side. The 2008 Brass Rat was the first in recent years to revert back to the original style of the ring, placing the seal and Dome above the "MIT" and "08" respectively.
Grad Rat
The Graduate Student ring, or "Grad Rat", is redesigned every 5 years. Unlike the undergraduate ring, the Grad Rat is personalized according to the department in which the graduate student resides and the degree to be received (i.e., Ph.D, Sc.D, S.M., etc.). 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[3]. However, in recent years the Grad Rat has been gaining in popularity among graduate students. 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 change these personalizations (including major, graduation year, and degree) free of charge.
History
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The ring was first proposed in 1929 and labeled the "Standard M.I.T. Ring"[4]
Variations
The ring is offered in several sizes, in various gold purities: 10, 14 or 18 carat (42%, 58% or 75% gold alloy) as well as white gold and Celestrium (jeweler's steel). The Celestrium ring is often called the "Stainless Steel Rat," a joking reference to the series of novels by Harry Harrison, or "Tin Rat" by older alumni[citation needed]. A typical ring: medium size, 14 carat gold, would cost US$403 in 2006 (class of 2008 ring). In recent years the Balfour company has been the exclusive manufacturer of the Brass Rat, although several other companies have made the ring through an annual competitive bidding and design process[5]. The ring is manufactured through a lost-wax casting process.
Design
The Brass Rat has many invariant central themes (such as the Beaver, and the class year) as well as new themes added over the years, such as the IHTFP motto. Each year then adds to the design numerous hidden jokes and references to experiences shared by the class of that year.
 | This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. |
| Class Year | Bezel | Shanks/Sides | Comments |
| 2008 |
File:Brass Rat 2008 Seal Shank.jpg File:Brass Rat 2008 Class.jpg File:Brass Rat 2008 boston.jpg File:Brass Rat 2008 cambridge.jpg File:Brass Rat 2008 Map.jpg |
No woman on the ring from previous year
Spoof ring presented initially:[6]File:MIT class ring 2008 spoof bezel.jpg | |
| Boat leaving (signifying the dissolution of Ocean Engineering) with a DNA sail (signifying the introduction of Biological Engineering)
Class year positioned lower than previous years |
Features introduced:TBD
Standard features: Beaver, IHTFP | ||
| 2007 |
File:Brass Rat 2007 Seal Shank.jpg File:Brass Rat 2007 Class Shank.jpg File:Brass Rat 2007 Boston Skyline.jpg File:Brass Rat 2007 Cambridge Skyline.jpg File:Brass Rat 2007 Map.jpg |
Second time a woman has been featured on the MIT seal | |
| Woman on shank seal. Hour glass with 'V' running out into 'H' signifying the MIT's presidential change from Charles Vest to Susan Hockfield in 2004. Moon reflection signifying commencement during a blue moon month. Shower head on branch representing the 'end' of freshman showering. Beaver juggling as students often juggle much work. Recently finished Stata Center in background. ' ƎƧЯUƆ ' on shank for 2004 Red Sox World Series victory. | Features introduced:TBD
Standard features:IHTFP, Beaver sitting on eight ivy leaves, Beaver wearing Brass Rat. | ||
| 2006 |
File:Brass Rat 2006 Seal Shank.png File:Brass Rat 2006 Class Shank.png File:Brass Rat 2006 Boston Skyline.png File:Brass Rat 2006 Cambridge Skyline.png File:Brass Rat 2006 Map.png |
Theme:"Starry Night"
Joining Cambridge and Boston skylines creates "MIT" in the negative space:File:MIT 2006 Brass Rat Skylines.JPG Much controversy surrounded the use of Greek letters on the ring[7]. | |
| A snow shovel is featured on the Mens et Manus side of the ring, signifying the occurrence of the only Institute snow day in recent history. The snow day occurred during the freshman year of the 2006 Class. ILTFP hidden in class shank; mission patch of STS-107 commemorating the Columbia tragedy Φ and θ letters on Cambridge skyline representing fraternities and sororities (response to "freshmen in dorms" policy, started with 2006 Class); coonskin cap on seal laborer, representing "pioneering nature" of class. Addition of Stata Center to "hacker's map" on underside of ring; miniature gnome in tree representing a hack from 2003; DNA strand and MIT Chapel spire commemorating the Dalai Lama's speech at MIT on religion and science. | Features introduced:TBD
Standard features:IHTFP, Beaver sitting on eight ivy leaves, Beaver wearing Brass Rat. | ||
| 2005 |
File:Brass Rat 2005 Seal Shank.gif File:Brass Rat 2005 Class Shank.gif File:Brass Rat 2005 Boston Skyline.gif File:Brass Rat 2005 Cambridge Skyline.gif File:Brass Rat 2005 Map.gif |
||
| "A=B=C=P" in the water on the left signifying the end of a year pass/no record, "ZZZ" in the water on the right to remember the sleepless nights. Tombstone with "rush" written across signifying the end of the traditional rush system. The beaver has a muscular arm and is standing in front of the Zesiger Athletic Center to commemorate the center and health consciousness. The beaver is holding a diploma with a screw - getting "screwed." A pile of numbers beneath the diploma represent the importance of numbers on the MIT campus. A hand in the water for the FSILG coordinator who was thrown into the Charles River. Infinite symbol under the columns for the Infinite Corridor. A star above the dome to show we do our best work at night, and an owl with eyes spelling out 0 and 5 represent the late nights spent in Athena. A dove in front of a globe as a symbol of world peace since 9/11 happened a few days after the class started freshman classes. A hip flask and Erlenmeyer flask are present behind the dove with words "Punt" and "Tool," symbols of balancing social lives and academical pursuit. Two laurel leaves spell out "80" for the sister class of 1980.[8][9] | Features introduced:TBD
Standard features:IHTFP, Beaver sitting on eight ivy leaves, Beaver wearing Brass Rat. | ||
| 2004 |
File:Brass Rat 2004 Seal Shank.jpg File:Brass Rat 2004 Class Shank.jpg File:Brass Rat 2004 Boston Skyline.jpg File:Brass Rat 2004 Cambridge Skyline.jpg File:Brass Rat 2004 Map.jpg |
||
| 2004 and its variations are portrayed numerous times | Features introduced:TBD
Standard features:IHTFP, Beaver is sitting on eight ivy leaves. | ||
| 2003 | |||
| Crane seen in background | Features introduced: Beaver sitting on eight ivy leaves representing superiority over the eight in Ivy League.
Standard features:IHTFP, Beaver sitting on eight ivy leaves. | ||
| 2002 | Theme:"Reflections"
First time a woman has been featured on the MIT seal | ||
| Beaver is clutching a stick crafted into a diploma with "02" at end. Leaves compose world map. Athena owl. Woman on seal shank in between books and laptop. Lamp has "77" handle, Great Dome R2D2 hack, and "02" flame. Ribbon from ILTFP and housing choice. Giant Tech "T" spelled in Green Building windows. Punt in Killian Court. 77 Mass Ave. steps. | Features introduced:TBD
Standard features:Beaver is sitting on twigs spelling IHTFP, Beaver wearing Brass Rat. | ||
| 2001 | |||
| Beaver is facing right | Features introduced:TBD
Standard features:IHTFP | ||
| 2000 | |||
| Bezel: diverse trees reflect the geographic makeup of class; 00 in the logs; IHTFP in the sun rays, which is neither setting nor rising, representing sunrises after all-nighters; dead 3-eyed fish representing the 'death' of the Athena computer cluster called the Fishbowl; buddy class ('75) ripples in the water; beaver wearing Brass Rat.
Class Shank: snowflakes, representing blizzard of '97 (1997-04-01); MM in the columns of 77 Mass Ave, representing 2000. Seal Shank: closed book, for the end of a millennia; 2000 hidden in lamp; globe, centered on Boston, is held in hands, representing, "The world is in our hands." Boston skyline: first to include Harvard Bridge and Citgo Sign, sailboats on Charles. Cambridge skyline: first to include Longfellow Bridge, crew boat representing early morning crew practices, Hale-Bopp Comet. |
Features introducedHarvard Bridge and Citgo Sign[citation needed], beaver wearing a Brass Rat, realistic beaver depiction.
Standard features:IHTFP | ||
| 1993 | |||
| Info and pics of '93 Brass Rat | Features introduced:TBD
Standard features: | ||
| 1992 | Originally, men on seal were dressed in honor of the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' arrival in the New World, but this was eliminated from the final design due to controversy[10]. | ||
| Beaver clutches XCII. Owl in upper right represents Project Athena. MIT92 seen in branch under owl. "PUNT" spelled out in twigs below beaver. | |||
| 1990 | |||
| Features introduced:First ring with skylines and Citgo sign.[citation needed] | |||
| 1986 | |||
| Fierce beaver facing left, holding twig in hand. "86" spelled in twigs in lower left. Pine trees and moon in upper right. Big dome and year on one side, MIT seal and "Mens et Manus" on other side. Manufacturer: Herff Jones. | |||
Brass Rat elsewhere
- A giant Brass Rat was manufactured to fit a cannon from Caltech's Fleming House, which was appropriated in an MIT hack in 2006-04-06.
- In May, 1979, a Brass Rat was welded to the finger of the John Harvard statue in Harvard University[11].
References
- ^ "Shiny new beaver mascot has debut". MIT News Office. 2000-05-10. Retrieved 2006-12-29.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Wright, Sarah H. (2000-06-07). "Class of 1975 finds homes in business or remote Thai village". MIT News Office. Retrieved 2006-05-30.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Grad Rat Proves Popular". Retrieved 2006-12-28.
- ^ "Ring History ('93 class webpage)". Retrieved 2006-12-26.
{{cite web}}: Text "work AlumWeb.MIT.edu" ignored (help) - ^ "List of ring manufacturers by year". Alum.MIT.edu. Retrieved 2006-12-29.
{{cite web}}: External link in|work= - ^ "The Spoof Bezel describing the 2008 "Spoof" ring". MIT.edu. Retrieved 2006-12-26.
{{cite web}}: External link in|work= - ^ "Response to the Greek Letters on 2006 ring". MIT.edu. Retrieved 2006-12-29.
{{cite web}}: External link in|work= - ^ Cameron, Jay (2003-02-25). "Class of 2005 Brass Rat Features Rush Tombstone, Traditional Seal". Retrieved 2006-12-29.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "2005 MIT Brass Rat brochure(PDF)" (PDF). Retrieved 2006-12-29.
- ^ "Columbus on class ring demeans Native Americans". The Tech. 1995-03-09. Retrieved 2006-12-31.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); External link in|work= - ^ "Hack brings Yard Plate to campus". The Tech. 1990-09-14. Retrieved 2006-12-31.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); External link in|work=