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. With the debate settled and the ring finally designed, the Class of 1930 was the first to proudly wear a Brass Rat. He does his best work in the dark.вЂќД¬iting 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. Ever since, each class has appointed its own Ring Committee, which must. The beaver is noted for his engineering, mechanical skills, and industry. 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 ringand thus the Brass Rat was born. The beaver not only typifies the Tech (student), but his habits are peculiarly our own. HornadyвЂ™s book on the animals of North America and instantly chose the beaver. But neither of these were American animals. He is wise, patient, strong, hard working, and, like all who graduate from Tech, has a good hide. 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: вЂњWe first thought of the kangaroo which, like Tech, goes forward in leaps and bounds. 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.Д¬ontroversy quickly arose over whether to honor the Beaver or the Great Dome on the bezel some members of the committee even questioned MITвЂ™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.

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