Why does New York University have two mascots, the Violet and the Bobcat?
In short: NYU exists in a strange identity limbo. Officially, the school is the Violets, a nod to its historic colors and Washington Square Park. Yet, in the arena, students rally as Bobcats. This dual identity persists, with cheerleaders shouting for Violets while a costumed Bobcat dances alongside them.
The moniker Violets is deeply rooted in NYU’s history, reflecting the violet and white colors worn by athletes for over a century. Theories regarding the name vary: some suggest it honors the flowers that once bloomed in Washington Square Park, while others link it to the violet’s status as the flower of ancient Athens, a historic center of learning. In the 1980s, the university even featured a student dressed as a violet to serve as the mascot.
The Bobcat arrived in 1984, born from a desire for a more intimidating presence on the field. While some rumors claim the name honors a bobcat rescued by founder Albert Gallatin, a more widely accepted theory attributes the name to the Bobst Library’s computerized catalog system, known as BobCat. Despite this official adoption, the Violets identity has proven difficult to discard, leading to the current hybrid culture where teams are branded as the Violet Storm while players are encouraged to use their Bobcat claws.
This mascot confusion occurs against the backdrop of a significant modern era for NYU Athletics. Between March 2023 and March 2026, the women’s basketball team achieved a record-breaking 91 consecutive wins in Division III. Meanwhile, the women’s swimming and diving team secured their first-ever NCAA Division III National Championship. Whether identified by the elegant violet or the fierce bobcat, the program is currently defined by a resilient culture of excellence that spans across multiple sports and seasons.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Violets or Bobcats…Who Are We?
- Also: NYU Violets
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