L to R:

• Athena (Greek Mythology), goddess of wisdom, with an owl above (wisdom & intelligence)

• Saint Thomas Aquinas (Catholicism), patron saint of academics, with a dove above (peace)

• Nurse

• Confucius (Confucianism), philosopher and teacher, with a dragon above (courage)

• Saraswati (Hinduism), goddess of knowledge, music, art, wisdom, with a phoenix above (rebirth)

Commentary: New College offers students diverse learning experiences. The figures showcased are symbols of education or intelligence from different cultures. All play an important role in their respective histories as figures people looked up to.

The nurse is a representation of those who are putting their lives on the line to save others. Within their hands they hold the solar symbol of Earth. They are the ones keeping the world together as chaos seems to rain down all around. Around the outer edge of the Earth are the words are gratias tibi ago which means “thank you.”

Above each figure is a creature associated with flight. In literature, flight symbolizes freedom and the ability to break free of circumstances that tie us down.

Per angusta ad augusta translates to “Through difficulties to honors.” It is written across the top to remind people of to endure through difficult times.

Because this is a New College course, the symbol of New College is placed above the nurse as the motto is the scroll at the bottom.

L to R & top to bottom:

• Woman in Italy, singing on balcony: hope

• Nurse in full PPE, haloed: saint

• Plague doctor, all black: the people in the past who tried

• Man on a ventilator, sick with coronavirus: representative of coronavirus

• Woman with a mask, modeled after a Publix employee, haloed with wings: angel

• Woman carrying a bag, mask on, customer: representative of “average” person

• Man with a mask, “work” outfit, putting things on shelves, haloed with wings: angel

• Politician, back turned, red/white stripes in the background: does not address the problem

• NCF Student, “halo” of Big Blue Button videoconferencing: a struggling student

• Professor in button down, eyes down: helping students

This uses more contemporary symbols of people living today that are still being used as symbols- the essential worker involuntarily drafted to the front lines, the nurses who are working so hard right now in rough conditions, the hope and the despair, and the regular people trying to cope.

L to R and top to bottom:

• Francis of Assisi: Returning to nature and living in the woods sounds like a good plan right now. Plus, poverty means no shoes, right?

• Buddha: Popular with the vegans of new college thanks to the first precept, now would be a great time to follow his solitary meditation.

• John the Baptist - Same story as Saint Francis, plus the hippie vibes he gives off definitely suit New College well.

• Dionysus: ordinarily the party aspect of would apply, but even at home many will need a little bit of his help to get through this (if you’re over 21, of course).

• Vesta: the god of the home should be an obvious pick, you better have a good relationship with her if you will be home for months.

• Apollo: The god of knowledge can hopefully encourage us to lose ourselves in books until this blows over, otherwise his patronage of medicine and music can give us hope.

L to R and top to bottom:

The top row is symbolism pertaining to the Covid-19 crisis and the middle row has symbols representing New College values.

• Power & Knowledge: Knowledge is of course central to any education, but feels particularly significant at New College where students are not just striving for a GPA. To follow a sincere cliche: knowledge is power, like the power symbol that is shown above. Power, in our electronics, is important to get us through this crisis because it allows for knowledge to be spread and to build community, through the news, facetime, and (sometimes unfortunately) social media. It is also essential to running ventilators and hospital equipment that can keep people alive.

• Spiral & Toilet Paper: The spiral is meant to be more ironic. Traditionally it represents the sun, central to life, and also central to the New College logo. The toilet paper is also spiral shaped and people are acting like it’s essential to life. It may be important, but also those who have the funds to hoard toilet paper could have just bought a bidet attachment.

• Four Winds & Soap: The Four Winds is the most definitive symbol of New College, in part influenced by symbols like the triskele and spiral. The graphics department of I.M. Pei described the seal as having a single truth and an unsophisticated directness to nature that makes it valuable and meaningful to New College. The sun dominates the landscape of New College. It therefore becomes the central pivot and heart of the seal symbolizing the light of knowledge and the source of life and energy. The sea and the wind can be felt in gentle and continuously moving lines around the sun. This controlled movement waxes and wanes in four equal periods indicating the four similar seasons of the year and the four compass points. This emphasizes the fact that New College is not an insular local or regional institution.

• Triskele & N-95: The three sides of the triskele are meant to represent the sun, afterlife and reincarnation. Self reflection and self discovery is common among New College students after joining the community, making for a sort of reincarnated identity. This is paired with the N-95 mask which to many means life. death, or a new start.

• Food & Ideas: Developing critical thinking skills is an essential part of attaining an education at New College. New ideas and reforming society are also essential to getting through this crisis. That’s why this was paired with food, another essential item, which (like good ideas) has been in short supply lately.

• The emphasis on the compass points and New College being more than a regional institution is particularly poignant. Though we may not be all together right now, New College ideals and knowledge surpass boundaries. Like the Four Winds, soap has “a single truth and an unsophisticated directness…” to keep ourselves clean. The way the seal represents New College, soap has become representative of the Covid-19 crisis, as we know it can kill the virus.

• The bottom row shows the New College community all together during this time, even if it is not physically together.