Patrick Lowe ’16, last year’s RingComm chair, wrote in an email to The Tech that the only meanings behind the symbols are what’s mentioned in the material published by the Class of 2016 ring committee on its website. Although the star signifies 2012, the year the Class of 2016 entered MIT, a twelve-pointed star is also a symbol of Chi Phi. The last symbol pointed out by the anonymous source was a twelve-pointed star etched onto the Boston skyline side of the bezel. Here, the screws on the “T” in “MIT” are turned such that the letters “chi” and “phi” are also noticeable.Īccording to the Class of 2016 RingComm’s website, the “XVI” symbols on the Hacker’s Map are supposed to represent a compass rose, declination scale, and a flat screw head, and the screw on the class shank was made to look like an “X” to distinguish a subtle vertical “XVI.” The first was on the Hacker’s Map, which features an engraved “XVI” for the Class of 2016, but the circle around the I makes it look like a Greek letter “phi.” (The X is the “chi.”) The second is located on the class shank. In an interview with The Tech, an anonymous RingComm member pointed out some of the symbols called into question on the Class of 2016 Brass Rat. These facts have led students to speculate that fraternity symbols have been incorporated into the ring, particularly those of the Chi Phi fraternity. This year’s ring committee also included two members of that fraternity.
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Additionally, in the past seven years, at least five RingComm chairs were members of Chi Phi, including last year’s chair. The past two ring committees, or RingComms, have each had ten out of their eleven members affiliated with fraternities and sororities. This prominent role exposes the group to criticism. Van Belleghem.Įvery year, a group of MIT students is chosen by its respective class council to design MIT’s iconic class ring, the Brass Rat, as well as organize the annual Ring Premiere and Ring Delivery ceremony. Occidentale, and the vice chair, Emily M. Ever since, each class has appointed its own Ring Committee, which endeavors to craft a ring that will inspire us while we are here, unite us once we leave, and, above all else, unmistakably symbolize the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.CLARIFICATION TO THIS ARTICLE: Disclosure: The author of this article is a friend of the Class of 2017 RingComm chair, Anthony J. So started the Institute tradition of the Brass Rat, the affectionate nickname for the ring that has become a symbol of MIT as well as one of the most recognizable rings worldwide.
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With the debate settled and the ring finally designed, the Class of 1930 was the first to proudly wear a Brass Rat. Citing the fact that many other schools had buildings similar to our Great Dome, the committee ultimately decided to honor our hard-working and industrious mascot on the ring-and thus the Brass Rat was born. The committee agreed upon a three part construction, with a primary image on the bezel of the ring and two other images on the two shanks.Ĭontroversy quickly arose over whether to honor the Beaver or the Great Dome on the bezel some members of the committee even questioned MIT’s choice of the beaver as its mascot. Brigham Allen, then President of the Class of 1929, called upon one member of the classes of 1930, 1931, and 1932 and entrusted them with the task of designing a ring that the Institute Committee would ultimately approve as the Standard Technology Ring. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Brass Rat tradition was born in the spring of 1929.