| Gnarls Narwhal | |
| University: | The New School |
| Species: | Narwhal |
| First: | 2014 |
| Website: | https://www.newschool.edu/campus-life/gnarls-narwhal/ |
Gnarls Narwhal is the official mascot of The New School, a private research university in New York City. Gnarls was introduced in 2014 through a student vote and has since become a symbol of the university's progressive values for having a non-binary identity and being a victim of climate change.
The mascot's backstory was initially drafted in 2014 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.[1] Gnarls was selected through a student vote in 2014, winning over other proposals including a cigarette.[2] The original design featured bold eyebrows and a basketball jersey.[3]
In 2021, the university accepted a redesign by Christine Wang which introduced eyeglasses, a friendlier expression, and a new backstory that portrays Gnarls as a non-binary climate refugee.[4] Upon the redesign, conservative college publications such as Campus Reform and The College Fix drew negative attention to Gnarl's identity.[5] [6]