MIT awards pirate certificates to undergraduate
CAMBRIDGE - As far as MIT is concerned, Jacob Hurwitz is a pirate.

The sophomore has the certificate to prove it. Hurwitz “is no longer a lily-livered landlubber,’’ the MIT document affirms. “Ahoy, Avast, and finally, Arrrrrr!’’

It’s been an unofficial, underground practice among students at MIT for at least 20 years: Any student who completes courses in pistol, archery, sailing, and fencing is considered a pirate.

But last fall MIT made it official, granting pirate status to six students, with many more expected to follow.

MIT, which requires undergrads to take four physical education courses, is a haven for competitive, unconventional students, and some of them wanted official recognition for their efforts. Carrie Sampson Moore, MIT’s director of physical education, said she is contacted every year by students who want to receive a tangible pirate document.

“I always tell them it’s a student initiative,’’ she said, “and they’re very disappointed.’’

Not anymore. As of this school year, the physical education department is formally conferring pirate status on students, printing certificates on faux parchment with diploma-esque calligraphy. Each paper, authorized by the “swashbucklin’ ’’ Massachusetts Institute of Technology, certifies that the named “salty dog’’ is entitled to a Pirate Certificate “with all its privileges and obligations thereof.’’

“It’s something to work toward and you can brag about it,’ said Hurwitz, a math and computer science major. Hurwitz, who for years has observed International Talk Like a Pirate Day (Sept. 19), showed up for an interview with the Globe wearing a pirate hat, eye patch, earring, knickers, and a stuffed parrot on his shoulder.

Becoming an MIT pirate is no small feat. Not only must students learn to sail on the not-very-high-seas of the Charles River, but they also have to grasp the fundamentals of indoor target archery, fencing footwork, and pistol shooting. Even more challenging, they actually have to sign up - not a task for the lily-livered. The four classes are notoriously over-subscribed and online registration begins at 8 a.m. - “when absolutely no MIT students are awake,’’ said Hurwitz.

Much deliberation went into the decision to offer pirate certificates, Moore said. In customary MIT fashion, it involved methodically conducted research, beginning with a student focus group.

“Students were split,’’ she said. “Some wanted to leave it underground. Others thought there should be recognition.’’