MIT class ring
Encyclopedia
Massachusetts Institute of Technology's class ring, often called the Brass Rat, is redesigned 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
skyline
s. An MIT campus
map and the student's name are engraved on the inner surface. The phrase "Brass Rat" is derived from the alleged 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.
MIT students highly value the Brass Rat, which is one of the most conspicuous and recognizable rings in the world. The stories of alumni recognizing each other on airplanes by their brass rats are legendary. As articulated by William Wang, president of the Class of 1975, there are "three recognizable rings in the world—the Brass Rat, the West Point ring, and the Super Bowl ring
."
. 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 in the Fall Term, which is followed months later by the Ring Delivery in the Spring Term. The latter has been a tradition since 1999 (Class of 2001), and is typically a formal occasion
. Ring Delivery ceremonies have been held on a harbor cruise, at prestigious restaurants, and at the Boston Public Library
. 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 to the original style of the ring, placing the seal and Dome above the "MIT" and "08" respectively.
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 '97 explained the decision:
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. This tradition has developed throughout the years producing one of the most cherished symbols of an MIT education that is recognized worldwide.
resides and to the degree to be received (i.e., PhD
, ScD
, SM
, 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. 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 specify these personalizations (including major, graduation year, and degree) without extra charges.
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
. A typical ring: medium size, 14 carat gold, would cost US$
616 in 2010 (class of 2012 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. The ring is manufactured through a lost-wax casting process.
motto.
Each year then adds to the design numerous hidden jokes
and references to experiences shared by the class of that year.
There is a map on the inside of the ring that is typically an outline map of buildings on the MIT campus.
Class ring
A class ring is a ring worn by students and alumni in the United States and Canada to commemorate their graduation, generally for a high school, college, or university.-History:...
has three main sections: the bezel, containing MIT
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
's mascot
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
, the beaver
American Beaver
The North American Beaver is the only species of beaver in the Americas, native to North America and introduced to South America. In the United States and Canada, where no other species of beaver occurs, it is usually simply referred to as "beaver"...
; the MIT seal (seal shank); and the class year (class shank). The side surfaces show the Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
and Cambridge
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
skyline
Skyline
A skyline is the overall or partial view of a city's tall buildings and structures consisting of many skyscrapers in front of the sky in the background. It can also be described as the artificial horizon that a city's overall structure creates. Skylines serve as a kind of fingerprint of a city, as...
s. An MIT campus
Campus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The campus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is located on a tract in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. The campus spans approximately one mile of the north side of the Charles River basin directly opposite the Back Bay neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts.The campus...
map and the student's name are engraved on the inner surface. The phrase "Brass Rat" is derived from the alleged resemblance of the gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
beaver to a rat
Rat
Rats are various medium-sized, long-tailed rodents of the superfamily Muroidea. "True rats" are members of the genus Rattus, the most important of which to humans are the black rat, Rattus rattus, and the brown rat, Rattus norvegicus...
. 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.
MIT students highly value the Brass Rat, which is one of the most conspicuous and recognizable rings in the world. The stories of alumni recognizing each other on airplanes by their brass rats are legendary. As articulated by William Wang, president of the Class of 1975, there are "three recognizable rings in the world—the Brass Rat, the West Point ring, and the Super Bowl ring
Super Bowl ring
The Super Bowl ring is an award in the National Football League given to the winners of the league's annual championship game, the Super Bowl...
."
Tradition
The Brass Rat is traditionally worn with the Beaver "sitting" on the wearer until graduationGraduation
Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the ceremony that is sometimes associated, where students become Graduates. Before the graduation, candidates are referred to as Graduands. The date of graduation is often called degree day. The graduation itself is also...
. This represents the hardships imposed on students at MIT
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
. In addition, the skyline
Skyline
A skyline is the overall or partial view of a city's tall buildings and structures consisting of many skyscrapers in front of the sky in the background. It can also be described as the artificial horizon that a city's overall structure creates. Skylines serve as a kind of fingerprint of a city, as...
of Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
is facing the student, representing the outside world awaiting. After graduation, the ring is turned around, and the Cambridge
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
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 in the Fall Term, which is followed months later by the Ring Delivery in the Spring Term. The latter has been a tradition since 1999 (Class of 2001), and is typically a formal occasion
Formal wear
Formal wear and formal dress are the general terms for clothing suitable for formal social events, such as a wedding, formal garden party or dinner, débutante cotillion, dance, or race...
. Ring Delivery ceremonies have been held on a harbor cruise, at prestigious restaurants, and at the Boston Public Library
Boston Public Library
The Boston Public Library is a municipal public library system in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It was the first publicly supported municipal library in the United States, the first large library open to the public in the United States, and the first public library to allow people to...
. 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 to the original style of the ring, placing the seal and Dome above the "MIT" and "08" respectively.
History
The ring was first proposed in 1929 and labeled the "Standard Technology Ring".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 '97 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, like all who graduate from Tech, has a good hide. But neither of these were American animals. We turned to Mr. Hornady's book on the animals of North America and instantly chose the beaver. The beaver not only typifies the Tech (student), but his habits are peculiarly our own. The beaver is noted for his engineering, mechanical skills, and industry. His habits are nocturnal. He does his best work in the dark."
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. This tradition has developed throughout the years producing one of the most cherished symbols of an MIT education that is recognized worldwide.
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 studentPostgraduate education
Postgraduate education involves learning and studying for degrees or other qualifications for which a first or Bachelor's degree generally is required, and is normally considered to be part of higher education...
resides and to the degree to be received (i.e., PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
, ScD
Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science , usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D. or Dr.Sc., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries Doctor of Science is the name used for the standard doctorate in the sciences, elsewhere the Sc.D...
, SM
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
, 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. 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 specify these personalizations (including major, graduation year, and degree) without extra charges.
Design variants
| 2008-2013 | |||
The second Grad Rat incorporates the leftward looking beaver, holding onto a diploma whose roll shapes a graduate "G". Below its tail is an hourglass with a similar meaning of time as the previous ring, yet is placed on its side in the form of an infinity symbol representing the indeterminate duration of study for many graduate students as well as the Infinite Corridor Infinite Corridor The Infinite Corridor is the hallway, 251 metres long, that runs through the main buildings of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, specifically parts of the buildings numbered 7, 3, 10, 4, and 8... . In the sticks is the IHTFP acronym. In the water is a hidden 72 representing the Nobel laureates at the time of the ring's creation. These numbers also create an infinite loop surrounding a flame representing the environmental stewardship and initiatives of the Institute. A billboard of the ups and downs of one's time at MIT stands in front of the light a the end of one's journey. The shank has enlarged the space for one's departmental symbol while the year below can be one's year of graduation or MCMXVI, the year in which MIT moved to Cambridge (which is also featured on the Great Dome on the ring). |
Recurring features: Beaver, IHTFP MIT hack Hacks at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are practical jokes and pranks meant to prominently demonstrate technical aptitude and cleverness, or to commemorate popular culture and historical topics. The pranks are anonymously installed at night by hackers, usually, but not exclusively... , Sunrise, "Ups and Downs" |
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| 2003-2008 | |||
The original Grad Rat features a left viewing beaver like the original 1930 Brass Rat does. The beaver's posture was chosen to show a strong nature, while maintaining a friendly attitude. The diploma, arguably the most valuable tangible result at the end of one's study, extends into the most valuable tangible element of their daily lives as graduate students: free food. A clock without hands represented the lack of fixed time to graduation, as opposed the traditional four years of an undergraduate, and the lack of time to do all the things one wants to while at MIT. In the road towards graduation is a roadblock that represents all the challenges toward finishing. The roadblock is made out of logs, representing that those obstacles are put there also by ourselves, yet in the distance is the light at the end of the tunnel. Like the Brass Rat, the skylines of Boston and MIT as well as a map of campus are incorporated. |
Recurring features: Beaver, IHTFP MIT hack Hacks at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are practical jokes and pranks meant to prominently demonstrate technical aptitude and cleverness, or to commemorate popular culture and historical topics. The pranks are anonymously installed at night by hackers, usually, but not exclusively... , Sunrise, "Ups and Downs" |
||
Undergrad Brass Rat
The ring is offered in several sizes, in various goldGold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
purities
Impurity
Impurities are substances inside a confined amount of liquid, gas, or solid, which differ from the chemical composition of the material or compound.Impurities are either naturally occurring or added during synthesis of a chemical or commercial product...
: 10, 14 or 18 carat
Carat (purity)
The karat or carat is a unit of purity for gold alloys.- Measure :Karat purity is measured as 24 times the purity by mass:where...
(42%, 58% or 75% gold alloy
Alloy
An alloy is a mixture or metallic solid solution composed of two or more elements. Complete solid solution alloys give single solid phase microstructure, while partial solutions give two or more phases that may or may not be homogeneous in distribution, depending on thermal history...
) as well as white gold
Colored gold
While pure gold is yellow in color, colored gold can be developed into various colors. These colors are generally obtained by alloying gold with other elements in various proportions....
and Celestrium
Celestrium
Celestrium is a trademark of a type of an austenitic stainless steel used in jewelry. It resembles white gold, but is cheaper and more durable. Celestrium is strong, resistant to chemical reaction, and easy to maintain. The same or similar alloys are marketed as white ultrium, in particular when...
(jeweler's steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
). The Celestrium ring is often called "The Stainless Steel Rat
The Stainless Steel Rat
James Bolivar DiGriz, alias "Slippery Jim" and "The Stainless Steel Rat", is the fictional hero of a series of humorous science fiction novels written by Harry Harrison.-James Bolivar diGriz:...
," a joking reference to the series of novels by Harry Harrison
Harry Harrison
Harry Harrison is an American science fiction author best known for his character the Stainless Steel Rat and the novel Make Room! Make Room! , the basis for the film Soylent Green...
, or "Tin Rat" by older alumni
Alumnus
An alumnus , according to the American Heritage Dictionary, is "a graduate of a school, college, or university." An alumnus can also be a former member, employee, contributor or inmate as well as a former student. In addition, an alumna is "a female graduate or former student of a school, college,...
. A typical ring: medium size, 14 carat gold, would cost US$
Dollar
The dollar is the name of the official currency of many countries, including Australia, Belize, Canada, Ecuador, El Salvador, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United States.-Etymology:...
616 in 2010 (class of 2012 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. The ring is manufactured through a lost-wax casting process.
Design variants
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 IHTFPMIT hack
Hacks at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are practical jokes and pranks meant to prominently demonstrate technical aptitude and cleverness, or to commemorate popular culture and historical topics. The pranks are anonymously installed at night by hackers, usually, but not exclusively...
motto.
Each year then adds to the design numerous hidden jokes
Easter egg (media)
Image:Carl Oswald Rostosky - Zwei Kaninchen und ein Igel 1861.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Example of Easter egg hidden within imagerect 467 383 539 434 desc none...
and references to experiences shared by the class of that year.
There is a map on the inside of the ring that is typically an outline map of buildings on the MIT campus.
| 2013 | |||
The beaver is sitting before the Charles River Esplanade. |
Features introduced:Maseeh Hall, MIT+150 Recurring features: Beaver, IHTFP MIT hack Hacks at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are practical jokes and pranks meant to prominently demonstrate technical aptitude and cleverness, or to commemorate popular culture and historical topics. The pranks are anonymously installed at night by hackers, usually, but not exclusively... , Punt/Tool |
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| 2012 | |||
The 2012 MIT Brass Rat was launched in space on Monday, February 8 on STS Mission 130 aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavor. Astronaut and MIT Alum T.J. Creamer '92 received it on the International Space Station. This is the first Brass Rat to be part of the payload of a space shuttle and the first actual Brass Rat to be on the ISS. The Beaver is positioned facing right, looking towards Boston and its future, reminded of the experiences and challenges that shaped its mind and hands by the IHTFP that prods it in the back (spelled out in the twigs of the dam). Twelve 12s are represented across the ring. The Olympic Torch-like flames on the Class Shank have 8 tips, in honor of the 8 Varsity sports that were cut in 2009 due to budget cuts. An i and j vector run normal to each other on the Boston Skyline, such that, while at MIT, the wearer's finger will form the k vector of the Right Hand Rule Right-hand rule In mathematics and physics, the right-hand rule is a common mnemonic for understanding notation conventions for vectors in 3 dimensions. It was invented for use in electromagnetism by British physicist John Ambrose Fleming in the late 19th century.... . |
Features introduced:RHR utility, Media Lab Extension Building added to Cambridge skyline Recurring features: Beaver, IHTFP MIT hack Hacks at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are practical jokes and pranks meant to prominently demonstrate technical aptitude and cleverness, or to commemorate popular culture and historical topics. The pranks are anonymously installed at night by hackers, usually, but not exclusively... , Punt/Tool Ambigram |
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| 2011 | |||
First year beaver has sat on the Harvard Bridge, whose rails spell "MIT." The 150 Smoot Smoot The smoot is a nonstandard unit of length created as part of an MIT fraternity prank. It is named after Oliver R. Smoot, a fraternity pledge to Lambda Chi Alpha, who in October 1958 lay on the Harvard Bridge , and was used by his fraternity brothers to measure the length of the bridge.-Unit... mark represents MIT's sesquicentennial birthday. The beaver crushes eight ivy leaves with the weight of MIT’s accomplishments but a spade replaces one of the leaves, honoring MIT‘s blackjack team. Twelve by twelve hatches on the tail identify the 144th graduating class. The shanks make reference to Athena, flashing the right-hand-rule, hackers silhouetted on the dome, and the Large Hadron Collider. The MIT seal is unchanged and beneath it is the "nuts and bolts" insignia of MIT. The screw heads on the insignia spell "X + I," or, 11 in Roman Numerals. On the Cambridge skyline, the lights of the Green Building read "2011" in binary. |
Features introduced:Koch Cancer Research Center added to hacker's map, student center and Stata added to Cambridge skyline Recurring features: Beaver, IHTFP MIT hack Hacks at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are practical jokes and pranks meant to prominently demonstrate technical aptitude and cleverness, or to commemorate popular culture and historical topics. The pranks are anonymously installed at night by hackers, usually, but not exclusively... (but not on the bezel), Punt/Tool Ambigram |
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| 2010 | The Tech article |
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Class year positioned at top of shank, 20 "10's" hidden on ring, NASA space shuttle representing the phasing out of the Shuttle program, which will officially end in 2010. Kerberos Cerberus Cerberus , or Kerberos, in Greek and Roman mythology, is a multi-headed hound which guards the gates of the Underworld, to prevent those who have crossed the river Styx from ever escaping... on shank, guarding MIT with a key made of a 1 and 0. A rose stem, as a tribute to class members who died and also to those who lost their lives in the Virginia Tech tragedy. Black relief on the buildings in the background spell IHTFP. Fire truck to symbolize the fire truck hack of freshman year. Lightning bolt to signify the energy initiatives by MIT as also the release of the last book in the Harry Potter series during the summer of 2007. The flame on the top of the pedestal on the seal shank forms the number 10 (for the class year 2010). |
Features introduced:Crew shell and sailboat on Cambridge skyline, Fenway park added to Boston skyline building 6 added to hacker's map Recurring features: Beaver, IHTFP MIT hack Hacks at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are practical jokes and pranks meant to prominently demonstrate technical aptitude and cleverness, or to commemorate popular culture and historical topics. The pranks are anonymously installed at night by hackers, usually, but not exclusively... |
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| 2009 | |||
The de-planetification of Pluto Pluto Pluto, formal designation 134340 Pluto, is the second-most-massive known dwarf planet in the Solar System and the tenth-most-massive body observed directly orbiting the Sun... commemorated. Cashier's office dollar bill United States one-dollar bill The United States one-dollar bill is the most common denomination of US currency. The first president, George Washington, painted by Gilbert Stuart, is currently featured on the obverse, while the Great Seal of the United States is featured on the reverse. The one-dollar bill has the oldest... , removed in the construction of a new student lounge, is shown behind the Lobby 10 columns. Six simple machine Simple machine A simple machine is a mechanical device that changes the direction or magnitude of a force.In general, they can be defined as the simplest mechanisms that use mechanical advantage to multiply force. A simple machine uses a single applied force to do work against a single load force... s represented. Caltech California Institute of Technology The California Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Pasadena, California, United States. Caltech has six academic divisions with strong emphases on science and engineering... cannon shown representing 2006 hack. Felled log crushing Ivy Leaves. In the background of the beaver the three-headed dog Kerberos Cerberus Cerberus , or Kerberos, in Greek and Roman mythology, is a multi-headed hound which guards the gates of the Underworld, to prevent those who have crossed the river Styx from ever escaping... , representing MIT's computer security. In the river, a companion beaver represents MIT's athletics logo, which had been redesigned nine months earlier. Hacker's map shows Building 6 unreachable due to construction. |
Recurring features: Beaver, IHTFP MIT hack Hacks at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are practical jokes and pranks meant to prominently demonstrate technical aptitude and cleverness, or to commemorate popular culture and historical topics. The pranks are anonymously installed at night by hackers, usually, but not exclusively... ,Punt and Tool were added on shank. |
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| 2008 | The Tech article No woman on the ring from previous year Spoof Hoax A hoax is a deliberately fabricated falsehood made to masquerade as truth. It is distinguishable from errors in observation or judgment, or rumors, urban legends, pseudosciences or April Fools' Day events that are passed along in good faith by believers or as jokes.-Definition:The British... ring presented initially: |
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Boat leaving (signifying the dissolution of Ocean Engineering Ocean engineering Ocean engineering is an ambiguously defined term that may refer to:*Oceanographic engineering, also called marine electronics engineering, concerned with the design of electronic devices for use in the marine environment, such as the remote sensing systems used by oceanographers*Offshore... ) with a DNA DNA Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in... sail (signifying the introduction of Biological Engineering) Class year positioned lower than previous years |
Features introduced:TBD Recurring features: Beaver, IHTFP MIT hack Hacks at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are practical jokes and pranks meant to prominently demonstrate technical aptitude and cleverness, or to commemorate popular culture and historical topics. The pranks are anonymously installed at night by hackers, usually, but not exclusively... |
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| 2007 | The Tech article Second time a woman has been featured on the MIT seal |
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Woman on shank seal. Hour glass with 'V' running out into 'H' signifying the MIT's presidential change from Charles Vest Charles Marstiller Vest Charles "Chuck" Marstiller Vest is a U.S. educator and engineer. He served as President of MIT from 1990 until December, 2004. He was succeeded as President by Susan Hockfield. On February 6, 2004, he was appointed to the Iraq Intelligence Commission by President George W. Bush... to Susan Hockfield Susan Hockfield Susan Hockfield is the sixteenth and current president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Hockfield's appointment was publicly announced on August 26, 2004, and she formally took office December 6, 2004, succeeding Charles M. Vest. Hockfield's official inauguration celebrations took... in 2004. Moon reflection signifying commencement Graduation Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the ceremony that is sometimes associated, where students become Graduates. Before the graduation, candidates are referred to as Graduands. The date of graduation is often called degree day. The graduation itself is also... during a blue moon Blue moon A blue moon can refer to the third full moon in a season with four full moons. Most years have twelve full moons that occur approximately monthly. In addition to those twelve full lunar cycles, each solar calendar year contains roughly eleven days more than the lunar year of 12 lunations... month. Shower head on branch representing the 'end' of freshman showering. Beaver juggling Juggling Juggling is a skill involving moving objects for entertainment or sport. The most recognizable form of juggling is toss juggling, in which the juggler throws objects up to catch and toss up again. This may be one object or many objects, at the same time with one or many hands. Jugglers often refer... as students often juggle much work. Recently finished Stata Center Stata Center The Ray and Maria Stata Center or Building 32 is a academic complex designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Frank Gehry for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology . The building opened for initial occupancy on March 16, 2004... in background. ' ƎƧЯUƆ Curse of the Bambino The Curse of the Bambino was a superstition cited as a reason for the failure of the Boston Red Sox baseball team to win the World Series in the 86-year period from 1918 to 2004... ' on shank for 2004 Red Sox Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"... World Series victory. |
Features introduced:TBD Recurring features:IHTFP MIT hack Hacks at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are practical jokes and pranks meant to prominently demonstrate technical aptitude and cleverness, or to commemorate popular culture and historical topics. The pranks are anonymously installed at night by hackers, usually, but not exclusively... , Beaver sitting on eight ivy leaves Ivy League The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group... , Beaver wearing Brass Rat. |
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| 2006 | Theme:"Starry Night" The Tech article Joining Cambridge Cambridge, Massachusetts Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent... and Boston Boston Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had... skylines creates "MIT" in the negative space: Much controversy surrounded the use of Greek letters on the ring. |
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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. IHTFP MIT hack Hacks at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are practical jokes and pranks meant to prominently demonstrate technical aptitude and cleverness, or to commemorate popular culture and historical topics. The pranks are anonymously installed at night by hackers, usually, but not exclusively... hidden in class shank; mission patch of STS-107 STS-107 -Mission parameters:*Mass:**Orbiter Liftoff: **Orbiter Landing: **Payload: *Perigee: *Apogee: *Inclination: 39.0°*Period: 90.1 min- Insignia :... commemorating the Columbia tragedy Space Shuttle Columbia disaster The Space Shuttle Columbia disaster occurred on February 1, 2003, when shortly before it was scheduled to conclude its 28th mission, STS-107, the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas and Louisiana during re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, resulting in the death of all seven crew members... Φ Phi (letter) Phi , pronounced or sometimes in English, and in modern Greek, is the 21st letter of the Greek alphabet. In modern Greek, it represents , a voiceless labiodental fricative. In Ancient Greek it represented , an aspirated voiceless bilabial plosive... and θ Theta Theta is the eighth letter of the Greek alphabet, derived from the Phoenician letter Teth... letters on Cambridge skyline representing fraternities and sororities (response to "freshmen in dorms" policy, started with 2006 Class); coonskin cap Coonskin cap A coonskin cap is a hat fashioned from the skin and fur of a raccoon. The original coonskin cap consisted of the entire skin of the raccoon including its head and tail... on seal laborer, representing "pioneering nature" of class. Addition of Stata Center Stata Center The Ray and Maria Stata Center or Building 32 is a academic complex designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Frank Gehry for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology . The building opened for initial occupancy on March 16, 2004... to "hacker's map" on underside of ring; miniature gnome Gnome A gnome is a diminutive spirit in Renaissance magic and alchemy, first introduced by Paracelsus and later adopted by more recent authors including those of modern fantasy literature... in tree representing a hack MIT hack Hacks at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are practical jokes and pranks meant to prominently demonstrate technical aptitude and cleverness, or to commemorate popular culture and historical topics. The pranks are anonymously installed at night by hackers, usually, but not exclusively... from 2003; DNA DNA Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in... strand and MIT Chapel MIT Chapel The MIT Chapel is a non-denominational chapel designed by noted architect Eero Saarinen. It is located on the campus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, next to Kresge Auditorium and Kresge Oval, which Saarinen also designed, in Cambridge, Massachusetts... spire commemorating the Dalai Lama's speech at MIT on religion Religion Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to... and science Science Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe... . |
Features introduced:TBD Recurring features:IHTFP MIT hack Hacks at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are practical jokes and pranks meant to prominently demonstrate technical aptitude and cleverness, or to commemorate popular culture and historical topics. The pranks are anonymously installed at night by hackers, usually, but not exclusively... , Beaver sitting on eight ivy leaves Ivy League The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group... , Beaver wearing Brass Rat. |
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| 2005 | The Tech article |
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"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 Headstone A headstone, tombstone, or gravestone is a marker, usually stone, that is placed over a grave. In most cases they have the deceased's name, date of birth, and date of death inscribed on them, along with a personal message, or prayer.- Use :... 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 Diploma A diploma is a certificate or deed issued by an educational institution, such as a university, that testifies that the recipient has successfully completed a particular course of study or confers an academic degree. In countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia, the word diploma refers to... with a screw Screw A screw, or bolt, is a type of fastener characterized by a helical ridge, known as an external thread or just thread, wrapped around a cylinder. Some screw threads are designed to mate with a complementary thread, known as an internal thread, often in the form of a nut or an object that has the... - 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 Charles River The Charles River is an long river that flows in an overall northeasterly direction in eastern Massachusetts, USA. From its source in Hopkinton, the river travels through 22 cities and towns until reaching the Atlantic Ocean at Boston... . Infinite Infinity Infinity is a concept in many fields, most predominantly mathematics and physics, that refers to a quantity without bound or end. People have developed various ideas throughout history about the nature of infinity... symbol under the columns for the Infinite Corridor Infinite Corridor The Infinite Corridor is the hallway, 251 metres long, that runs through the main buildings of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, specifically parts of the buildings numbered 7, 3, 10, 4, and 8... . A star Star A star is a massive, luminous sphere of plasma held together by gravity. At the end of its lifetime, a star can also contain a proportion of degenerate matter. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun, which is the source of most of the energy on Earth... 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 Project Athena Project Athena was a joint project of MIT, Digital Equipment Corporation, and IBM to produce a campus-wide distributed computing environment for educational use. It was launched in 1983, and research and development ran until June 30, 1991, eight years after it began... . 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 Freshman A freshman or fresher is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves A freshman (US) or fresher (UK, India) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang plural frosh or freshmeat) is a... classes. A hip flask Hip flask A hip flask is a thin flask for holding a distilled beverage; its size and shape are suited to a trouser pocket.-Description: Hip flasks were traditionally made of pewter, silver, or even glass, though most modern flasks are made from stainless steel... and Erlenmeyer flask Erlenmeyer flask An Erlenmeyer flask, also known as a conical flask, is a widely used type of laboratory flask which features a flat bottom, a conical body, and a cylindrical neck. It is named after the German chemist Emil Erlenmeyer, who created it in 1861... 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. |
Features introduced:View of new Z-center building, screw under diploma, full enclosed seal on side shank Recurring features:IHTFP MIT hack Hacks at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are practical jokes and pranks meant to prominently demonstrate technical aptitude and cleverness, or to commemorate popular culture and historical topics. The pranks are anonymously installed at night by hackers, usually, but not exclusively... , Beaver sitting on eight ivy leaves Ivy League The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group... , Beaver wearing Brass Rat. |
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| 2004 | |||
2004 and its variations are portrayed numerous times |
Features introduced:TBD Recurring features:IHTFP MIT hack Hacks at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are practical jokes and pranks meant to prominently demonstrate technical aptitude and cleverness, or to commemorate popular culture and historical topics. The pranks are anonymously installed at night by hackers, usually, but not exclusively... , Beaver is sitting on eight ivy leaves Ivy League The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group... . |
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| 2003 | The Tech article |
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Crane Crane (machine) A crane is a type of machine, generally equipped with a hoist, wire ropes or chains, and sheaves, that can be used both to lift and lower materials and to move them horizontally. It uses one or more simple machines to create mechanical advantage and thus move loads beyond the normal capability of... seen in background representing extensive construction on campus. The beaver is building a bridge to the future with a stick and diploma. In the bridge are the words “MIT”, “IHTFP”, and “MMIII” (the Roman numerals for 2003). A broken bottle in the river represents changes to MIT’s alcohol policies. |
Features introduced: Beaver sitting on eight ivy Ivy Ivy, plural ivies is a genus of 12–15 species of evergreen climbing or ground-creeping woody plants in the family Araliaceae, native to western, central and southern Europe, Macaronesia, northwestern Africa and across central-southern Asia east to Japan and Taiwan.-Description:On level ground they... leaves representing superiority over the eight in Ivy League Ivy League The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group... . Recurring features:IHTFP MIT hack Hacks at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are practical jokes and pranks meant to prominently demonstrate technical aptitude and cleverness, or to commemorate popular culture and historical topics. The pranks are anonymously installed at night by hackers, usually, but not exclusively... , Beaver sitting on eight ivy leaves Ivy League The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group... . |
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| 2002 | Theme:"Reflections" The Tech article First time a woman has been featured on the MIT seal |
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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 Massachusetts Avenue (Boston) Massachusetts Avenue, known to locals as Mass Ave, is a major thoroughfare in Boston, Massachusetts, and several cities and towns northwest of Boston... . steps. |
Features introduced:TBD Recurring features:Beaver is sitting on twigs spelling IHTFP MIT hack Hacks at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are practical jokes and pranks meant to prominently demonstrate technical aptitude and cleverness, or to commemorate popular culture and historical topics. The pranks are anonymously installed at night by hackers, usually, but not exclusively... , Beaver wearing Brass Rat. |
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| 2001 | "Class of 2001 Ring Tells Tale Of Rainy Rush, New Beginnings" (March 9, 1999) Beaver was oriented to right only once previously in history of brass rat. |
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Beaver faces right to represent new millennium. Star on globe marks Cambridge, Massachusetts Cambridge, Massachusetts Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent... above Kresge Auditorium Kresge Auditorium Kresge Auditorium is an auditorium building for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, located at 48 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts. It was designed by the noted architect Eero Saarinen, with ground-breaking in 1953 and dedication in 1955... , site of initial class gathering. Combination of city skyline and forest signifies adaptability. "PUNT" and MIT class number (134) in trees above beaver's head. Beaver holds diploma carved from branch, bearing class years '01 and '76 (sister class). Flower in lower right symbolizes resilience. "IHTFP MIT hack Hacks at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are practical jokes and pranks meant to prominently demonstrate technical aptitude and cleverness, or to commemorate popular culture and historical topics. The pranks are anonymously installed at night by hackers, usually, but not exclusively... " in blades of grass in front of beaver's tail. Bottle in lower left in remembrance of classmate Scott Krueger. "R/O" behind beaver in the ripples of Charles River Charles River The Charles River is an long river that flows in an overall northeasterly direction in eastern Massachusetts, USA. From its source in Hopkinton, the river travels through 22 cities and towns until reaching the Atlantic Ocean at Boston... . |
Features introduced: Ring delivery event Recurring features: IHTFP MIT hack Hacks at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are practical jokes and pranks meant to prominently demonstrate technical aptitude and cleverness, or to commemorate popular culture and historical topics. The pranks are anonymously installed at night by hackers, usually, but not exclusively... |
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| 2000 | The Tech article |
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Bezel: diverse trees reflect the geographic makeup of class; 00 in the logs; IHTFP in the sun Sun The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields... rays, which is neither setting nor rising, representing sunrise Sunrise Sunrise is the instant at which the upper edge of the Sun appears above the horizon in the east. Sunrise should not be confused with dawn, which is the point at which the sky begins to lighten, some time before the sun itself appears, ending twilight... s after all-nighters; dead 3-eyed fish representing the 'death' of the Athena Athena In Greek mythology, Athena, Athenê, or Athene , also referred to as Pallas Athena/Athene , is the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, warfare, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, justice, and skill. Minerva, Athena's Roman incarnation, embodies similar attributes. Athena is... computer Computer A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem... cluster called the Fishbowl; buddy class ('75) ripples in the water; beaver wearing Brass Rat. Class Shank: snowflakes, representing blizzard Blizzard A blizzard is a severe snowstorm characterized by strong winds. By definition, the difference between blizzard and a snowstorm is the strength of the wind. To be a blizzard, a snow storm must have winds in excess of with blowing or drifting snow which reduces visibility to 400 meters or ¼ mile or... of '97 (1997-04-01); MM in the columns of 77 Mass Ave Massachusetts Avenue (Boston) Massachusetts Avenue, known to locals as Mass Ave, is a major thoroughfare in Boston, Massachusetts, and several cities and towns northwest of Boston... , representing 2000. Seal Shank: closed book, for the end of a millennium; 2000 hidden in lamp; globe, centered on Boston, is held in hands, representing, "The world is in our hands." Boston Boston Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had... skyline: first to include Harvard Bridge Harvard Bridge The Harvard Bridge carries Massachusetts Avenue from Back Bay, Boston to Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is the longest bridge over the Charles River.... and Citgo Citgo CITGO Petroleum Corporation is a United States-incorporated, Venezuela-owned refiner, transporter and marketer of transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products. The company is owned by PDV America, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Petróleos de... Sign, sailboats on Charles Charles River The Charles River is an long river that flows in an overall northeasterly direction in eastern Massachusetts, USA. From its source in Hopkinton, the river travels through 22 cities and towns until reaching the Atlantic Ocean at Boston... . Cambridge Cambridge, Massachusetts Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent... skyline: first to include Longfellow Bridge Longfellow Bridge The Longfellow Bridge, also known to locals as the "Salt-and-Pepper Bridge" or the "Salt-and-Pepper-Shaker Bridge" due to the shape of its central towers, carries Route 3 and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's Red Line across the Charles River to connect Boston's Beacon Hill... , crew boat representing early morning crew Rowing (sport) Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water... practices, Hale-Bopp Comet Hale-Bopp Comet Hale–Bopp was perhaps the most widely observed comet of the 20th century, and one of the brightest seen for many decades... Comet. |
Features introduced:Harvard Bridge Harvard Bridge The Harvard Bridge carries Massachusetts Avenue from Back Bay, Boston to Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is the longest bridge over the Charles River.... and Citgo Citgo CITGO Petroleum Corporation is a United States-incorporated, Venezuela-owned refiner, transporter and marketer of transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products. The company is owned by PDV America, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Petróleos de... Sign, beaver wearing a Brass Rat, realistic beaver depiction. Recurring features:IHTFP MIT hack Hacks at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are practical jokes and pranks meant to prominently demonstrate technical aptitude and cleverness, or to commemorate popular culture and historical topics. The pranks are anonymously installed at night by hackers, usually, but not exclusively... |
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| 1999 | "The Tech" article |
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The Class of 1999 brass rat was the first to include the MIT campus map on the underside of the bezel. |
Features introduced: Campus map on underside of bezel |
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| 1998 | Theme: "It's a Classic" The Tech article |
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The Class of 1998 ring was a departure from recent designs, with shanks similar to styles last seen in the 1970s. |
Features introduced:Goddess Athena Athena In Greek mythology, Athena, Athenê, or Athene , also referred to as Pallas Athena/Athene , is the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, warfare, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, justice, and skill. Minerva, Athena's Roman incarnation, embodies similar attributes. Athena is... represented for the first time. Recurring features: |
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| 1993 | |||
Info and pics of '93 Brass Rat |
Features introduced:TBD Recurring features: |
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| 1992 | Originally, men on seal were dressed in honor of the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus Christopher Columbus Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the... ' arrival in the New World, but this was eliminated from the final design due to controversy. |
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Beaver clutches XCII. Owl in upper right represents Project Athena Project Athena Project Athena was a joint project of MIT, Digital Equipment Corporation, and IBM to produce a campus-wide distributed computing environment for educational use. It was launched in 1983, and research and development ran until June 30, 1991, eight years after it began... . MIT92 seen in branch under owl. "PUNT" spelled out in twigs below beaver. |
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| 1990 | |||
Beaver clutches XC. "90" on beaver's tail and crescent moon and "NINETY" in its dam. "MIT" in the fur on beaver's flank. Scroll in the MIT logo forms "9" on the left and "0" on the right. |
Features introduced:First ring with skylines and Citgo Citgo CITGO Petroleum Corporation is a United States-incorporated, Venezuela-owned refiner, transporter and marketer of transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products. The company is owned by PDV America, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Petróleos de... sign. |
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| 1988 | |||
Beaver facing to his right, crescent moon in corner. Twigs in his paw contain letters M I T, twigs underfoot contain 88, as does fur of left haunch. MIT Seal on one side, Great dome and year on other side. Slight waisting of borders on both sides create two more 8s, bringing the total to 8. Detail is sufficient to make MASSACHVSETTS INSTITVTE OF TECHNOLOGY under Great Dome legible under magnification. |
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| 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. |
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| 1983 | |||
`83' is partially hidden in the twigs on the ground. Hungry beaver is preparing to gnaw on a twig. Pete Van Voast’s ring (Course III, '83). |
Features introduced:TBD Recurring features:Class date on bezel is a hidden image in beaver's pile of twigs. Shank design is very similar to previous year. |
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| 1982 | |||
`82' is (barely) visible in the twigs on the ground. The beaver looks uncharacteristically Rat-like and angry this year. The Tech comments: "It looks like the Beaver just found out about the newest tuition hike" (9800 TDM). Dave Kieda's ring (Course VIII, '82). |
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| 1950 | |||
TBD |
Features introduced:TBD Recurring features:TBD |
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| 1946 | |||
TBD |
Features introduced:TBD Recurring features:TBD |
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| 1942 | |||
TBD |
Features introduced:TBD Recurring features:TBD |
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MIT Hacks
- A giant Brass Rat was manufactured to fit a cannonCannonA cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
from Caltech'sCalifornia Institute of TechnologyThe California Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Pasadena, California, United States. Caltech has six academic divisions with strong emphases on science and engineering...
Fleming House, which was appropriated in an MIT hackMIT hackHacks at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are practical jokes and pranks meant to prominently demonstrate technical aptitude and cleverness, or to commemorate popular culture and historical topics. The pranks are anonymously installed at night by hackers, usually, but not exclusively...
on April 6, 2006. The Brass Rat was reclaimed before the cannon's return, and is now in the collection of the MIT MuseumMIT MuseumMIT Museum, founded in 1971, is the museum of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It hosts collections of holography, artificial intelligence, robotics, maritime history, and the history of MIT. Its holography collection of 1800 pieces is the largest in...
. As of 2011, the artifact was on display as part of the MIT 150 year-long exhibition commemorating the 150th anniversary of MIT's founding charter. - In May 1979, a Brass Rat was attached to the finger of the John HarvardJohn Harvard (clergyman)John Harvard was an English minister in America whose deathbed bequest to the Massachusetts Bay Colony's fledgling New College was so gratefully received that the school was renamed Harvard College in his honor.-Biography:Harvard was born and raised in Southwark, England, the fourth of nine...
statue in Harvard YardHarvard YardHarvard Yard is a grassy area of about , adjacent to Harvard Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that constitutes the oldest part and the center of the campus of Harvard University...
.
Film appearances
- Stir CrazyStir Crazy (film)Stir Crazy is a 1980 American comedy film starring Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor as down-on-their-luck friends who are given 125-year prison sentences after being framed for a bank robbery; while in prison they befriend other inmates and ultimately escape. In 2000, Total Film magazine voted it the...
: Inmate Grossberger was played by 78 in (198 cm), 380 lb (170 kg) Erland Van Lidth De JeudeErland Van Lidth De JeudeErland van Lidth de Jeude was a Dutch-born actor who appeared in several Hollywood films, as well as being a wrestler, an opera singer bass-baritone, and also worked with computers. While his large size Erland van Lidth de Jeude (June 3, 1953 - September 23, 1987) was a Dutch-born actor who...
, an MIT graduate in Course VI, while wearing his Brass Rat. - Iron ManIron Man (film)Iron Man is a 2008 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. Directed by Jon Favreau, the film stars Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark, an industrialist and master engineer who builds a powered exoskeleton and becomes the technologically advanced superhero, Iron...
: Lieutenant Colonel James "Rhodey" Rhodes (played by Terrence HowardTerrence HowardTerrence Dashon Howard is an American actor. Having his first major role in the 1995 film Mr. Holland's Opus, which subsequently led to a number of roles in films and high visibility among African American audiences. Howard broke into the mainstream with a succession of well-reviewed television...
) and Tony Stark (played by Robert Downey, Jr.) both wear the Brass Rat, visible on their fingers. But in Iron Man 2, the ring sported by Lieutenant Colonel Rhodes is evidently not a Brass Rat, and looks suspiciously like the West Point ring