FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT NYU
Where is NYU located?
The heart of New York University is located in the Greenwich Village section of New York City, with several of NYU's building surrounding Washington Square Park. However, many NYU dormitories and classroom buildings are spread around both downtown and uptown Manhattan.
NYU's two main athletic facilities are the:
Jerome S. Coles Sports Center (181 Mercer Street, New York, NY 10012; 212-998-2020)
Palladium Athletic Facility (140 East 14th Street, New York, NY 10003; 212-992-8500).
Additional Campus Information
How do I reach individual coaches/administrators if I need to correspond?
All of NYU's coaches and administrators can be reached via e-mail, telephone or regular mail. Each person's individual e-mail address and telephone number is listed on the website's Staff Directory page. The mailing address for all personnel is: Jerome S. Coles Sports Center, 181 Mercer Street, New York, NY 10012.
How did NYU teams get the nickname “Violets”?
For more than 100 years, New York University athletes have worn the distinctive violet and white colors that were derived from the violets that grew under the shade of the trees in Washington Square Park. While some questioned the resulting nickname—the Violets—because it lacked the aggressive, competitive connotation that goes along with sport, generation after generation of NYU athletes have carried the Violets name with pride and distinction into the arenas and onto the playing fields of virtually every sport invented.
Why is the Bobcat the “official” mascot of NYU?
In 1984, NYU’s Bobst Library began the process of computerizing its catalog. To lead students and faculty through the new system, a Bobst Catalog character was derived to instruct users on how to prompt the new system. The BobCat (from Bobst Library Catalog) was the character. Bobcat images appeared all over the library, in campus publications, and in many other campus locations. The Bobcat was a cartoon—cute and user-friendly.
Meantime, the athletic department had only a year earlier reinstated its men’s varsity basketball program. With great fanfare, the department kicked off the reinstatement of the program in a game against CCNY at the Coles Sports Center on November 26, 1983. In preparation for this contest, the Violets nickname was personified in the form of a walking, talking, acrobatic Violet. Clad in a skintight green bodysuit, arms in the shape
of green violet leaves, a necklace of large purple petals, and a purple face with yellow hair, the Violet was unveiled at a pep-rally right before the big game. The Violet served well. It was most amusing and was a source of great entertainment for NYU fans. But in no way did this mascot instill any sense of awe or foreboding in our opponents.
Ultimately, the time for executive action arrived. Then-NYU president Dr. L. Jay Oliva directed that the Violet mascot be replaced by a new mascot—the Bobcat. The Bobcat would wear a violet uniform and even bear the name Violets. The original Bobcat was constructed in the NYU Tisch School of the Arts costume shop and looked like the cartoon character from the library. More important, the Bobcat came to represent the strong link between academic and athletic excellence that New York University was striving to develop through its athletic programs.
Thus, today’s Bobcat mascot was born—still wearing violet and symbolizing the tradition of not only NYU’s commitment to academic and athletic excellence, but also the same commitment of the newly formed University Athletic Association of which NYU was a founding member.
Where do NYU teams that compete outdoors host their home games?
Due to NYU’s location in the heart of Manhattan’s Greenwich Village, several varsity teams must play their home games off-campus. The men’s and women’s soccer teams play their contests at several local colleges (New Jersey Institute of Technology, Manhattan College, College of Staten Island). The cross country teams host meets at Van Cortlandt Park in Riverdale, NY, while the tennis teams play at the U.S. National Tennis Center in Flushing, NY.
More information on NYU facilities can be accessed through our facilities page.
How do I become a member of the Coles Sports Center or the Palladium Athletic Facility?
There are many different student, staff, faculty, alumni, community, etc. groups that are eligible to become members: Specific details on who is eligible and what the costs are, as well as what the hours of operation are, can be found by accessing 2008-09 Policies and Procedures Guide (PDF).
I am an alum of NYU. How do I get a membership to Coles/Palladium?
All University alumni who have contributed a minimum of $150 per year to the Violet Booster Club, their school’s alumni fund, or other University fund-raising campaigns are eligible to purchase memberships for use of the NYU Sports and Recreation Centers. Membership entitles those individuals to use all facilities according to availability at no additional charge. For more information, contact the Coles Membership Office at (212) 998-2045.or the Palladium Membership Office at 212-992-8510.
What is the Violet Booster Club and how do I join?
The Violet Booster Club (VBC) is an organization dedicated to the support and advancement of New York University Athletics. VBC members include parents, former student-athletes, members of the NYU community, and others who enjoy cheering for our teams. VBC members provide financial and other kinds of support for the NYU Department of Athletics, Intramurals and Recreation, to help ensure the future success of our student-athletes and athletic programs.
Violet Booster Club members are entitled to a variety of exclusive benefits, including access to NYU home athletic events and invitations to receptions and special events throughout the year, where they meet players and coaches from our varsity teams while enjoying food and refreshments. The VBC is a great way to show your support and stay connected with NYU Athletics and the University.
Where can I find additional information about NYU?
Other helpful information concerning NYU can be found below:
Campus Information
Student Affairs Information