| Michigan State University campus | |
 |
|
| The Rock | |
| Use | Billboard, natural monument |
| Style | Varies by paint job |
| Erected | 1873 (original site) 1986 (current site) |
| Demolished | N/A |
| Location | Farm Lane at the Red Cedar River |
| Namesake | None |
| Architect | N/A |
| Inscription | "Class '73" (covered by paint) |
| Website | N/A |
The Rock is a boulder on the campus of Michigan State University. It serves as a billboard for campus groups and events.
History
The Rock was unearthed in 1873 near what is now the corner of Grand River Avenue (M-43) and Michigan Avenue in East Lansing, Michigan. It was donated to the (Michigan) State Agricultural College by the class of 1873. The college placed the rock in the "Sacred Space" near the modern day Beaumont Tower, where the stone became a common hangout for young couples and became known as the "Engagement Rock". By the late 20th Century, the rock had become better known for protest slogans than engagement photos. In 1986, it was moved to its current location, east of Farm Lane, on the north bank of the Red Cedar River. Today, the innumerable layers of paint obliterate the original inscription: "Class '73".
The Rock Today
One of the most poignant moments in the history of the Rock occurred on the evening of September 11, 2001. Within hours of the September 11, 2001 attacks, virtually every activist group on campus, along with the university administration, had organized an impromtpu candlelight vigil at the floodplain next to the Rock. The rock was painted green and white with the words "MSU students in remembrance and reflection" on the front, and an American flag on the back. Several thousand students attended. In a break from normal rock-painting etiquette, the university asked all campus groups to abstain from repainting the Rock for one week.
