WELCOME
“One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them”
- J.R.R. Tolkien
As one of MIT’s most sacred traditions, the Brass Rat acts to unify each of MIT’s classes as they approach the middle of their journey through the Institute. With this in mind, this year’s Ring Committee has worked tirelessly to craft a ring that embodies MIT’s Class of 2018.
This site grants you access to every aspect of this years’ ring. Here you can check out the designs, get to know the committee members, and keep up to date with news regarding Ring Premiere and Ring Delivery. You can also submit suggestions you have for the ring itself, or contact us with questions you have. With the help of this feedback, we can create a ring that each member of the Class of 2018 will cherish for life.
HISTORY
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Brass Rat tradition was born in the spring of 1929. C. 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 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; some members of the committee even questioned MIT’s choice of the beaver as its mascot. 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. With the debate settled and the ring finally designed, 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 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.
COMMITTEE
ELIZABETH EASTMAN
“I have been a beekeeper all my life. I spent my Gap year last year sailing and cleaning the beaches of the Baja coast, skiing the backcountry of the Alps, and working at Tablet as a graphic design and software engineer intern.”
ROLE: Ring Committee Chair
HOMETOWN: Locust Valley, New York
COURSE: 6-3
RESIDENCE: Maseeh Hall
AFFLIATION: Alpha Phi
RING: 18K Yellow Gold with Natural Finish, Medium Bezel
JULIAN DELERME
“Gamer. Developer. Maker. Foodie.”
ROLE: Web Developer
HOMETOWN: Longwood, Florida
COURSE: 6-3
RESIDENCE: New House
AFFLIATION: None
RING: 10K Yellow Gold with Light Antiquing, Medium Bezel
AFIKA NYATI
“I speak one of those African languages with all the clicks in it. As a matter of fact, my last name actually means ‘Buffalo’. I’m passionate about design and technology; I compose music, design logos, make satirical animations and produce fiiiree mixtapes in my spare-time.”
ROLE: Web Developer
HOMETOWN: Johannesburg, South Africa
COURSE: 6-2
RESIDENCE: Baker House
AFFLIATION: Sigma Alpha Epsilon
RING: 18K Yellow Gold with Natural Finish, Large Bezel
AMBER GUO
“I like to bakery-hop, draw, and sleep. My favorite color is red, and red pandas are my favorite animals ;).”
ROLE: Social Chair
HOMETOWN: Chandler, Arizona
COURSE: 6-3
RESIDENCE: Maseeh Hall
AFFLIATION: Kappa Alpha Theta
RING: 14K Yellow Gold with Light Antiquing, Small Bezel
AMIR KARAMLOU
“I like playing volleyball, going on adventures and meeting new people. Also, I have a Persian rug in my room that my friends find amusing to reference every once in a while.”
ROLE: Treasurer
HOMETOWN: Granite Bay, California & Tehran, Iran
COURSE: 6-2 & 8
RESIDENCE: Simmons Hall
AFFLIATION: None
RING: Ultrium with Regular Antiquing, Large Bezel
ANDREEA MARTIN
“My musical preferences are either extremely classical or extremely ratchet with almost nothing in-between.”
ROLE: Event Coordinator
HOMETOWN: Gainesville, Florida
COURSE: 6-1 or 8
RESIDENCE: Maseeh Hall
AFFLIATION: None
RING: Extreme Silver with Regular Antiquing, Small Bezel
WILLIAM CARUSO
“Call me Billy. I make a badass chicken parm.”
ROLE: Event Coordinator
HOMETOWN: Toms River, New Jersey
COURSE: 6-3
RESIDENCE: Burton Third
AFFLIATION: Sigma Chi
RING: Extreme Silver with Regular Antiquing, Large Bezel
BRANDON SANCHEZ
“I gain sustenance entirely through music and podcasts.”
ROLE: Event Coordinator
HOMETOWN: Centreville, Virginia
COURSE: 6-2 & 21W
RESIDENCE: Zeta Psi Fraterniry
AFFLIATION: Zeta Psi
RING: 14K Yellow Gold with Natural Finish, Large Bezel
DANIELA CARRASCO
“I rarely make sense and live in a world of my own more times than not. I love sketching, painting, photography, animation and have probably watched one too many Disney movies.”
HOMETOWN: Miami, Florida
COURSE: 6-3 or 9
RESIDENCE: Senior Haus
AFFLIATION: None
RING: 14K Yellow Gold with Light Antiquing, Medium Bezel
EVA BOAL
“I’m a spunky lax gurl who is ready for any and all challenges.”
ROLE: Social Chair
HOMETOWN: Princeton Junction, New Jersey
COURSE: 2A
RESIDENCE: Maseeh Hall
AFFLIATION: Sigma Kappa
RING: 10K Rose Gold with Regular Antiquing, Medium Bezel
HENRY SHACKLETON
“If I suggest enough absurd designs for the ring, at least one of them has got to go through.”
ROLE: Ring Committee Vice Chair & Secretary
HOMETOWN: Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
COURSE: 24
RESIDENCE: East Campus
AFFLIATION: None
RING: 10K Yellow Gold with Regular Antiquing, Large Bezel
MADHURIMA DAS
“I love dancing on Chamak, trying to matchmake, the Simmons Craft Room, the Media Lab, making things, cookie dough, Harry Potter, and unicorns! Also, I’ve probably stalked you on Facebook.”
ROLE: Social Chair
HOMETOWN: Canton, Michigan
COURSE: 2A
RESIDENCE: Simmons Hall
AFFLIATION: Alpha Chi Omega
RING: 14K White Gold with Natural Finish, Small Bezel
VICKIE WANG
“I like music and math and people and purple things! And running after frisbees! But not any other kind of running.”