The Manhattan Jaspers and Lady Jaspers are the athletic teams of Manhattan University (formerly Manhattan College), a Lasallian Catholic institution in the Bronx, New York. The teams compete in NCAA Division I as members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. The athletic identity centers on a green Block M logo with a “JASPERS” banner, supported by complementary wordmarks.
Design and History
In August 2011, Manhattan College introduced newly enhanced primary athletic logos as part of a marketing campaign called “The Promise.” The traditional Block M logo was revamped but retained a vintage look that had been a mainstay throughout the athletic program’s history. Alongside the Block M, the college created both a “Manhattan” and a “Jaspers” wordmark to complement the primary mark. The new logos were used on official apparel worn by more than 300 student-athletes across the college’s 19 Division I teams, as well as on fan apparel and multimedia promotional platforms. A graphic standards guide was developed to standardize usage of the new athletic brand identity.[1]
The current primary logo features a large, white capital “M” bearing a banner with the word “JASPERS” in green letters, with a trademark symbol at the bottom right.[2] An alternate version uses a green “M” with a white “JASPERS” wordmark on a green banner.[3]
The Jaspers nickname derives from Brother Jasper of Mary, F.S.C., who served at the college in the late 19th century as athletic director, baseball coach, and head of resident students.[4] Brother Jasper is credited with creating the “Seventh-Inning Stretch” during a game when he noticed Manhattan students becoming restless and told them to stand up and stretch until play resumed.[5]
Meaning and Symbolism
Like the new college logo introduced around the same period, the “Jaspers” wordmark displays the Lasallian Star of Faith (“Signum Fidei”). This symbol represents the five core principles that guided the Christian Brothers in founding Manhattan College: faith in the presence of God, respect for all people, commitment to quality education, an inclusive community, and concern for the poor and social justice.[1]
The athletic teams use green and white as their official colors.[6] The college’s brand colors include a deep green with the hex code #046A38.[7]
Typography and Design
The Block M logo uses a bold, collegiate-style letterform with a banner element carrying the “JASPERS” wordmark. The design system includes the Block M as the primary mark, complemented by separate “Manhattan” and “Jaspers” wordmarks created in 2011.[1] The college’s athletic department has not publicly documented a specific designer or agency for the 2011 logo refresh.
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