the ratline experience culminates with resurrection week ending in "breakout," an event where the rats are formally "welcomed" to the vmi community. after the successful completion of breakout, rats are officially fourth class students and no longer have to strain in the barracks or eat "square meals." many versions of the breakout ceremony have been conducted. in the 1950s, rats from each company would be packed into a corner room in the barracks and brawl their way out through the upperclassmen. from the late 1960s through the early 1980s the rats had to fight their way up to the fourth level of the barracks through three other classes of cadets determined not to let them get to the top. the stoops would often be slick with motor oil, packed with snow, glazed with ice, greased, or continuously hosed with water. the barracks stairs and rails were not able to take the abuse, so the corps moved the breakout to a muddy hill, where rats attempt to climb to the top by crawling on their stomachs while the upper classes block them or drag them back down. the rats no longer breakout in the mud but instead participate in a grueling day of physical activity testing both physical endurance and teamwork.