Plaques: A Staple of Middlesex Culture

What is the process of creating a senior plaque, and what is the history of this unique Middlesex tradition?

Photo from Online

Actor-comedian Steve Carell has many lucrative achievements from Golden Globe awards to a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; despite these monumental accomplishments, Carell would undoubtedly claim that his most impressive comes from his alma mater of Middlesex, carved in the wooden walls of the school’s historic buildings. Of course, I am talking about the alumnus’ Middlesex plaque. Plaques are at the core of Middlesex culture. Not only do they house Middlesex history, but they also allow students to express themselves and leave a permanent mark on the place they called home for years. As long as Middlesex exists, so too do the plaques. But how exactly do plaques come to fruition? 

Beginning in the fall of senior year, students meet once a week in the Bass Arts Pavilion to start the process. After learning about the essential tools and safety, students begin on practice boards. Moving around the room each class to experience different lighting on their woodwork, students learn how to properly use tools and position themselves in an advantageous position to leverage their weight in carving the wood. After two months of practice, students must then choose their design over November break. “What is the message they want to leave behind?” is the question Laura Darby McNally, Head of Plaques, prompts students with. Except for guidelines illustrated in the school handbook, there is very little limitation to the content of the plaque, allowing students to fully express themselves in a unique way that future students can admire. Many students do not limit themselves to just wood, adding trinkets to their boards and implementing fun games into their plaques. Once students choose their design, they print and trace their image onto the piece of wood that will become their plaque. By March, students can add color and finishing touches to the plaques. The plaques are then hung on the walls and integrated into Middlesex history the week before graduation for students and families to admire.  

However, plaque carving was not always this way. When Middlesex was founded, students were required to take wood carving for their entire Middlesex career. Because of students’ impressively detailed plaques, rumors circulated that students hired professionals to carve their plaques. In the 1980s this method changed when Middlesex implemented a regular semester-based wood carving class, a decision which evolved into the weekly carving current Middlesex students now know. 

A hot topic of discussion on the Middlesex campus is the now-considered controversial plaques. “Symbols change and times change,” remarks Darby. Although these plaques may be controversial today, “this was you at the time and the moment,” and “it is not our place to take them down.” To compromise, facilities have moved controversial plaques away from public areas and into less visited areas. Still, these plaques offer insight into the varying perspectives of Middlesex students at the time and highlight individuality. 

No matter how controversial, plaques are essential to the Middlesex experience. Not only are they a memoir to oneself, but they are a way in which students can truly leave their unique mark on Middlesex.  

Alex Barron