The Graduate Student ring, or "Grad Rat", is redesigned every five years when the production contract expires. This tradition has developed throughout the years producing one of the most cherished symbols of an MIT education that is recognized worldwide. 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. Since that time, subsequent classes have appointed a Ring Committee to design their own MIT ring. The Dome lent itself particularly well to use on the shanks. 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. 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. His habits are nocturnal-he does his best work in the dark.'" Hornaday says, 'Of all the animals in the world, the beaver is noted for his engineering and mechanical skill and habits of industry. As you will see, the beaver not only typifies the Tech, but his habits are peculiarly our own. 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. He is wise, patient, strong, hard working and like all who graduate from Tech, has a good tough hide.īut neither of these were American animals. "We first thought of the kangaroo which like Tech, goes forward in leaps and bounds. Lester Gardner (SB, 1898) explained the decision: 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. This precipitated a vigorous discussion concerning the exact status of the Beaver as the Institute mascot. 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. Riehl, and its sole purpose was to provide a ring which the Institute Committee would approve as the Standard Technology Ring. 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 change was not followed by the Class of 1991, but resumed and has continued since the Class of 1992's ring. The tradition of the skylines began with the Class of 1990 ring, for which the mold process in manufacturing was altered from 3 pieces to 5 pieces. The 2010 Brass Rat was the first to incise the "MIT" and "2010" on the shanks of the ring. 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. Ring elementsĪlthough parts of the ring change each year, typically the MIT seal is on one shank of the ring, and a depiction of the Dome is on the other side. Ring Delivery ceremonies have been held on a harbor cruise, at prestigious restaurants, and at the Boston Public Library. The latter has been a tradition since 1999 (Class of 2001), and is typically a formal occasion. 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. The undergraduate ring is designed and presented in the sophomore year of each class. After graduation, the ring is turned around, and the Cambridge skyline is visible to the graduate, as a reminder of times spent at MIT. In addition, the skyline of Boston is facing the student, representing the outside world awaiting. This represents the hardships imposed on students at MIT. The Brass Rat is traditionally worn on the right hand with the Beaver "sitting" on the wearer until graduation.
0 kommentar(er)
