The ring must be designed not only for ourselves now, but also for ourselves many years from now. These rings come with lifetime warranties and with good reason: these are meant to be worn or kept forever. I prefer the approach of using the agreed upon symbols of the beaver, the dome, and the seal.Р”Р‡inally, I would like to bring up a note about longevity. The simple truth is that it is nearly impossible to represent the experiences of an entire class. As a common example, there are two references to Rush on my rat, yet I know many of my friends who did not participate. The current controversy regarding Kappa Alpha Theta notwithstanding, ring committee members certainly will never reflect the large proportion of each class that has no desire to be on such a committee. I will again bring up the idea of РІР‚Сљrepresenting our experiences as classes here.РІР‚Сњ An effort is made to ensure that members of the ring committee are chosen to represent a diverse set of students at MIT. How can one claim that this ring will embody our experiences at this school when one is not even halfway through hell? The ring committees talk a great deal about representing our experiences as classes here, yet the most fond memories we will have of MIT oftentimes will be during our junior and senior years. I will outline only a few here.Р”Р‡irst, these events all take place during the first year and a half of oneРІР‚в„ўs time at MIT. There are many problems with this approach to ring design. Rings are now inundated with symbols representing everything from new buildings to snow days, from scientific discoveries to memorializing an old Rush and inaugurating a new one. However, in the rush to create an unique rat for their class, many ring committees have gone overboard. I have tremendous respect for the time they dedicate to their charge. They will produce a design for an item that many students will wear for a lifetime. No doubt, they are under intense scrutiny from their respective classes. Ring committees have drawn the ire of many students for their choices. Now, with recent marketing by the ringmakers, the classes have begun a tradition of appointing ring committees to impart some individuality on their ring. Many times I have heard of friends identifying alumni and fellow students on planes, in lines, and on the street, simply because they were wearing a brass rat.Р”Р‡or years, the design has remained the same: the beaver on top of a mat of sticks on the bezel, two shanks with the dome, one with the class year, and one with the name of our school. Cliches aside, it instantly confers upon the wearer membership into an exclusive club. And why not? Its bulkiness and, some would say, ugliness, has a certain charm. We are told that the rat is the most recognizable class ring on the planet. However, I would like to call out one tradition I feel has been tinkered with far too much in recent years: our schoolРІР‚в„ўs fabled brass rat. One might attribute this fact to MITРІР‚в„ўs sense of innovation and creativity. When compared with our neighbors down the street and other top schools around the country, MIT has a certain irreverence for tradition. COLUMN Keep it Simple, Stupid Stephen Form

2004 mit brass rat