MIT Brass Rat 2016
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Brass Rat tradition was born in the spring of 1929. The President of the Class of 1929, C. Brigham Allen, 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 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.
Controversy quickly arose over whether to honor the Beaver or the Great Dome on the bezel, and the debate was so heated that the status of the beaver as the Institute’s mascot was even called into question. The committee looked to the original discussion over the mascot (formally decided upon by President MacLaurin in 1914) calling upon the now famous defense of the beaver by Lester Gardner, Class of 1897:
“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 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.”
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. After the recommendation of the committee, the Class of 1930 was the first to proudly wear a Brass Rat.
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. Ever since, each class has appointed its own Ring Committee, which must honor the traditions of the Institute while simultaneously highlighting the class’s unique characteristics. Each year’s committee still has the same fundamental mission: to design 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. Now is your chance to take part in the long and unbroken tradition that embodies our collective, life-changing experiences at MIT.
Bezel
The beaver of 2016 is youthful and proud. His left hand holds a disk with the Mayan calendar, in tribute to the survival of our class through 12/21/12. Projecting from its center is a hologram of a globe, symbolizing the global influence and diversity of MIT. As our class is flanked by Olympic celebrations in 2012 and 2016, our Beaver’s right hand grips an Olympic torch crafted from the letters MMXVI. He stands atop the Harvard Bridge at the 149th smoot mark. The upper railing of the bridge is a DNA double helix. As it passes the beaver on its way to MIT, the rough and leafy bridge evolves to being clear and defined, a nod to ground-breaking scientific discoveries and progress. The underside of the beaver’s tail holds our ubiquitous motto “IHTFP”, a slogan whose meaning flips as easily as the tail itself.
On the Boston shore stands Fenway, a symbol of Boston’s strength. Behind it stands the Citgo sign, a beacon that is always visible across the Charles. The sign has an extra post, alluding to a transistor. In the background rise the Prudential Center and John Hancock Tower. Between these three landmarks one can always find their way home.
Behind the Harvard Bridge, both the Longfellow and Zakim bridges span Charles River, displaying a stunning view we are surrounded by each day. The front towers on the bridge are an admissions tube, a surprise we all received as excited prefrosh, and a dalek from Dr. Who.
The back left tower is a stack of poker chips in tribute to the movie “21” and the actual MIT Poker Club members who visited during our freshman year. The remaining tower is a pawn, the chess piece that can transform into anything once it reaches the end of the board — just as we have unlimited potential after graduating from MIT. Behind the Longfellow Bridge the suspension cables of the Zakim Bridge spell out MIT.
The Cambridge shore holds Kresge; behind it rises the Great Dome. As a tribute to the renovation of the Barker reading room, the skylight has been replaced by Iron Man’s arc reactor. The Green building rises above campus, with the radome replaced by the Boston Strong symbol. To left of the Green building rises Stata and to the right stands the Media Lab. Both new and old buildings are displayed to represent MIT’s permanent presence on the cutting edge of technology and the innovation that comes out of the Institute.
Class Shank
Our class year, 2016, is boldly cast above the Great Dome of Building 10. This iconic structure is the backdrop of Killian Court, the ground upon which we begin and end our MIT journey, and is guarded vigilantly by the 3 heads of Kerberos. At the top of the Dome, two hackers add “C+” to the Roman Numerals, symbolizing our class year and the 100th anniversary of MIT’s move across the river from Boston to Cambridge. The two hackers make their escape via a sky crane, commemorating the spectacular landing of Curiosity the summer before our freshman year. On the opposite side of the dome soars the owl of Athena – the symbol of wisdom in the ancient world and of our computing system here at MIT. Athena herself stands proudly in Killian Court, overlooking the epic snowball fight that took place in nor’easter Nemo’s wake. Her right hand, adorned with a brass rat, grasps her spear, depicting the right-hand rule. On her left arm she wears the MIT Police shield, as a testament to those who protect us every day. Below, the modernized nuts and bolts form an overlapping MIT, clamped at the top by a Philips head screw to create a vertical XVI.
Seal Shank
Per tradition, MIT is emblazoned proudly above the seal of the Institute. Within the seal, the craftsman and scholar embody MIT’s timeless motto: ‘Mens et Manus’ (Mind and Hand), reflecting our founder William Barton Roger’s firm belief that the future lies at the junction of academic endeavor and application. Between them, firm on the foundation of “The Science and the Arts”, the lamp of learning burns with eternal flames curling into a number 16. Behind the seal, gears and circuitry represent our drive to understand the workings of the universe. As Atlas bore the weight of the sky, the Alchemist stands strong bearing the MIT seal. His numbers and symbols embody our work here and is a reminder of the humanity of knowledge. On his body a “12” and a “16” are printed, spanning the “T” to mirror those years that demark our time at the Institute. The Alchemist stands between a giant Newton’s cradle caught between the dueling forces of “Punt” and “Tool”. Just like a Newton’s cradle, our lives constantly swing back and forth between fun and work.
Skylines
The Boston Skyline is depicted under a bright sky as viewed from campus during the day. A twelve pointed star streaks across the sky, representing the Russian meteor and our first year at MIT. Cast along the shoreline is the golden ratio, a mathematical representation of beauty and perfection. In the water, the historic MIT barge embarks on its maiden voyage across the Charles River. This represents the centennial anniversary of MIT’s relocation from Boston’s Back Bay to Cambridge. You can also see the silhouettes of the Berkeley Building, Hancock tower, Prudential Center, 111 Huntington Avenue, Back Bay Brownstones, and the Citgo Sign.
The Cambridge skyline is depicted under a dark night sky, as many see it on their way back from Boston. Voyager I, the first manmade object to leave our solar system, is visible in the sky above the Hayden Library. The silhouettes of Kresge, Bexley, the Great Dome, Killian Court, Hayden, Green Building (displaying 149 in hexadecimal), Walker Memorial, and the Media Lab can be seen along the riverfront. On the left, two crew shells, a quad and a double, can be seen forming 4^2. On the right race two Americas Cup AC72’s, designed by MIT alums. The wing and sails of the leading boat form another 16.
