Juniors try on The Ring

By Elysha D. Nelson
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

Maggie Denison was so excited when she tried on the two junior rings she'd already paid for that she ended up buying a third.

"I bought the traditional gold and also a field ring," said Denison, 20, a junior cadet and communications major from Hopewell Jct., NY. "The one I just ordered is my company ring that most of my rook buddies got."

Juniors in the Norwich University Corps of Cadets who ordered the traditional class rings got to try them on for the first time in January. Civilians, who ordered their rings from a different company, had to wait until February sixth.

Denison said she never believed that trying on her ring would be such an experience.

"It felt really weird trying on my ring, because it is so heavy and wide," Denison said. "Even though we have gone through two-and-a-half years waiting for this moment, it didn't seem like it was time, yet."

According to Denison, the excitement of trying on the coveted ring was addictive

"I told myself beforehand that I would just go in and made sure everything was correct, that it fit, and then get out," Denison said. "But as soon as I put it on, I couldn't take it off. I stayed for about a half hour."

Shawn Smith, 22, a civilian junior English major from Keene, NH, said that he doesn't "recall hearing or seeing any kind of advertisements or anyone on other campuses putting so much emphasis on one ring."

Deciding which ring to buy proved a major obstacle for Kyle Blaikie, 20, a junior cadet and communications major from Greenport, NY. According to Blakie, when he couldn't decide on just one ring, he bought four.

"I am going to give one to my mom, one to my dad and keep one field ring and the gold one," Blaikie said.

Even though Blaikie bought so many rings, he wasn't sure if he would have bought even one if he had gone to another college.

"Here at Norwich, you go through so much, and I guess that it gives you a sense of accomplishment," Balkie said. "Here, there is a whole weekend just for the juniors. And it's all hyped up. Everyday, the morning callers count down, so I think that adds to it."

Jennifer Doucette, 20, a civilian accounting and business management major from Belfast, ME, decided to get a ring simply because she never got a high school ring.

"There is a lot of pride in the ring, even for civilians," according to Doucette. "This school is a lot about tradition and honor."

Though tradition is a huge part of getting the ring, students also see it as a symbol of friendships they made at Norwich.

"The ring reminds me of the time I have spent here at Norwich, all the people I've met, the experiences I've had, and the friends I will always remember," Smith said.

According to Denison, getting a ring at Norwich is special just as the school itself is special.

"There is no other place where you get the camaraderie, team work, and good friends all thrown together by chance," Denison said. "My classmates and I have gone through a lot together, good times and bad times, but when we all come together after we graduate, we have one thing in common: the ring."

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