Post Classifieds

Students excited about junior ring

By Suzanne Whitaker

On November 3, 2009

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The Norwich University Corps of Cadets has carried on a ring tradition since March of 1923. Over half a century later, approval was given for the creation of a civilian class ring in 1989.

According to the civilian junior ring Web page, it is hoped that the ring will bond civilian students and that they will carry on the Norwich ring tradition, wearing it as a symbol of their loyalty to the university and their classmates. The first civilian class ring was made in 1990.

Danielle LaSpina, a 20-year-old junior sports medicine major from Reading, Mass., plans on getting a class ring. "It will show that I graduated from Norwich," LaSpina said.

Several students say that the ring is more of a tradition for the Corps of Cadets. "It's pretty expensive, and I'm pretty unaffected by the whole ring thing" said Marley Balasco, a 20-year-old junior international studies major from Barrington, R.I.

"It's a tradition of the Corps of Cadets, it's not really one that belongs to the civilians," Balasco said. "We can get a ring, but it doesn't have as much meaning to us."

"The corps has a different take on it," said Nicole Fabbo, a 20-year-old junior political science major from Everett, Mass. "As civilians, we didn't experience rook training and being in a company, but we still went through a lot".

Fabbo's goal, as chair of the ring committee, is to increase the number civilians who buy rings. "It's 30 civilians every year opposed to 200 or 300 corps kids who get a ring," Fabbo said. "We are trying to get rid of the misconception that the civilian rings are not as expensive as the corps'." The cheapest civilian women's ring is $250 and the cheapest men's ring is $320.

The civilian ring was unveiled on Oct. 15. "I was so excited. I think it's absolutely awesome," Fabbo said.

"The 1819 side has Alden Partridge on it, and our 1819 side is the same as the Corps 1819," Fabbo said. "And for the class side, it's the Norwich eagle and the White Chapel".

"I think it looks really nice," said Stephen LaMarca, a 20-year-old junior physics major from McLean, Va. "They did a great job, it's nice, I like the chapel," Balasco said.

According to the civilian ring Web page on the alumni Web site (www.alumni.norwich.edu), each item on the ring is a symbol. On the class year side, the eagle stands for strength and courage. The scroll, which is superimposed on the eagle, says ‘Norwich University'; the Norwich shield has rays of sun that represent hope and fulfillment; and the cannon and engineer represent Norwich's academic mission.

On the class side, Alden Partridge is depicted along with Payne Mountain, White Chapel, Jackman Hall and the I Will Try scroll that represent the traditions of Norwich. Civilian students can have symbols that represent their major and degree replace the symbols on the traditional class side.

"I think you have to have pride in your school and that's the way I look at it and a lot of other people in the ring committee look at it," Fabbo said. "I have pride in the fact that I go to Norwich and I want people to know and be able to look at my ring."