Today is the 28th birthday of Gnarls Narwhal, The New School’s mascot, and their 10th anniversary at the university. 

Gnarls has represented TNS as their “sea mammal-in-residence” since 2014. The university introduced the mascot to act as “an advocate for students and all of their scholarly and extracurricular activities, an attendee at political protests, and ambassador for oceanic lifeforms,” according to their website.

Gnarls’ bio states they are “a social justice activist, and the only sea mammal to earn a BA/BFA dual degree from The New School.” The narwhal was displaced from their place of birth in the Arctic waters of the North Atlantic Ocean, where waning ice levels forced them and their family to migrate. Gnarls came to The New School after landing in New York to pursue their passions in environmental studies and communication design. 

They’ve continued to receive love and adoration from students and faculty alike and, in 2021, were given a makeover by the school.

Christine Wang, a graphic designer for The New School, redesigned the campus micro-celebrity from a sporty, bushy-browed, slyly grimacing mascot to a more welcoming, educated, and supportive member of the community.

Gnarls can often be found perusing events around campus, cheering on prospective students during orientation week, or “posing with random pets on the street,” according to their profile on the university website.