Gnarls Narwhal

Gnarls Narwhal
University	The New School

Gnarls Narwhal is the official mascot of The New School, a private research university in New York City. A nonbinary narwhal who uses they/them pronouns, Gnarls was introduced in 2014 through a student vote and has since become a symbol of the university's progressive values and commitment to social justice.

Background and Creation

The narwhal mascot was selected through a student vote in 2014, winning over other proposals including a cigarette. The original design featured bold eyebrows and a basketball jersey. In 2021, the university undertook a significant redesign of Gnarls to better reflect the institution's values and student body.

Character Development

The mascot's backstory was initially drafted in 2015 by Ricky Tucker, a former New School student and faculty member, and was later expanded in 2020. The character development involved collaboration between the university's marketing team and focus groups to ensure authentic representation of the school's community.

Personal History

According to their official biography, Gnarls was born on March 7 in the Arctic waters between Greenland and Svalbard, Norway. They were forced to migrate due to climate change affecting their Arctic habitat. After arriving in New York City, they enrolled at The New School, becoming the first and only sea mammal to earn a BA/BFA dual degree, majoring in Communication Design at Parsons School of Design and Environmental Studies at Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts.

Role and Representation

Gnarls serves as the university's "sea mammal-in-residence," functioning as an advocate for student activities, a representative at political protests, and an ambassador for oceanic lifeforms.

Cultural Impact

The mascot's nonbinary identity and environmental activism have garnered attention for breaking traditional mascot conventions. Gnarls is known for appearing at various campus events, orientation weeks, and community gatherings, with their presence tracked on social media through the hashtag #wheresgnarls.

2021 Redesign

In fall 2021, Gnarls received a significant makeover that included the replacement of the basketball jersey with more scholarly attire, addition of distinctive glasses, and updated visual design by Christine Wang, the university's graphic designer. The redesign aimed to create a more welcoming and representative mascot that better reflected The New School's community and values.