Boston University’s official school colors are scarlet and white. Scarlet has been a core part of the university’s visual identity since its founding in 1869. Over time, BU has adopted a consistent color palette of scarlet, white and gray to represent the school in uniforms, merchandising, communications and more. Understanding BU’s official colors and color schemes is helpful for students, alumni, employees and fans who want to properly represent the university.
The Origins of Scarlet and White
Scarlet and white were chosen as BU’s official school colors shortly after its establishment. In the late 1860s, scarlet was a popular school color, with Harvard and McGill adopting it just before BU. White was commonly paired with bold colors like scarlet to create an eye-catching contrast. Some believe BU chose the combination as a nod to Harvard’s school colors. Others say it was selected to differentiate BU athletes from their opponents. Regardless, the vibrant yet classic pairing created an enduring visual identity for BU.
Scarlet and white first appeared on the uniforms of BU’s earliest sports teams in the late 19th century. Photos from that era show BU baseball players outfitted in scarlet jerseys and caps with white letters. Football players from the same period wore thick striped scarlet and white wool sweaters. Cheerleaders rallied crowds in white tops and skirts with scarlet accents. This early athletic branding helped establish scarlet and white as the university’s definitive colors.
Official Color Standards
Over 130 years later, scarlet and white remain integral to Boston University’s visual identity system. To maintain consistency across different materials and contexts, BU has defined official standards for each color:
| Color | Pantone Matching System Code | CMYK Values | RGB Values | Hexadecimal Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BU Scarlet | 200 | 0, 100, 63, 12 | 180, 0, 51 | #B40033 |
| BU White | White | 0, 0, 0, 0 | 255, 255, 255 | #FFFFFF |
The university brand guide specifies that Pantone 200 be used for all solid scarlet. When printing on white backgrounds, BU’s white is simply unprinted white space. On dark backgrounds, Pantone’s White color should be used. Following these standards allows all applications of the school colors to be clear and consistent.
Scarlet and White in Use
As Boston University’s central visual identity elements, scarlet and white appear widely across departments, materials and merchandise. Some prominent examples include:
– Athletics uniforms – BU athletes across all sports wear scarlet and white uniforms and warmups. Some teams incorporate gray as a neutral accent color.
– Print materials – University posters, brochures, stationery and other print pieces consistently use the BU colors. Headlines and callouts appear in scarlet, while body text is black on a white background.
– Graduation regalia – Caps and gowns at BU commencement ceremonies are black with scarlet piping. Hoods are lined in scarlet and feature a white chevron.
– Merchandise – From t-shirts to hats to license plate frames, BU merchandise is dominated by scarlet and white. The University Bookstore carries hundreds of products in the school colors.
– Web properties – Digital pages and sites like bu.edu and alumni.bu.edu use scarlet in headlines and accents against a white background. Gray is used for borders, dividers and backgrounds.
– University seal – BU’s seal, present on diplomas and official documents, consists of a shield with a scarlet background and white chevron.
Alternate Colors
In addition to scarlet, white and gray, Boston University employs two other colors sparingly for accent purposes:
– BU Blue: A bright cyan blue used primarily for web links and interactive page elements. BU Blue stands out clearly against white backgrounds.
– BU Green: A warm green earth tone used occasionally on collateral and merchandise. BU Green provides a complementary accent to neutral grays.
These colors appear only in small details and accents. Scarlet, white and gray remain the core identifying BU colors.
Color Psychology and Meaning
It’s worth examining the cultural associations and meanings behind Boston University’s key colors:
– Scarlet – Scarlet is a bold, attention-grabbing hue associated with energy, passion, strength and courage. As a result, it’s a popular school color conveying pride, competitiveness and ambition. The warmth and intensity of BU scarlet inspires Terrier spirit.
– White – White represents purity, innocence and potential. In heraldry, white symbolized faith and peace. As BU’s secondary color, white offers neutrality and brightness, allowing scarlet to stand out. The two colors complement one another.
– Gray – Gray is sleek, refined and sophisticated. It promotes neutrality and flexibility, making it an ideal accent color. Gray also represents intellect and wisdom, fitting for an academic institution like BU.
Overall, scarlet and white form an optimal color pairing for a university – scarlet promoting passion and achievement, balanced by white’s purity and openness. The addition of flexible gray provides a polished touch.
Spirit Colors in Scarlet and White
Scarlet and white take on special prominence during athletic events, commencements and other university celebrations. Donning BU’s colors allows Terriers past and present to visually proclaim their pride:
– Athletic events – Fans dress in scarlet and white to fill the stands and cheer on BU teams. Face and body paint in the school colors is a popular spirit accessory.
– Graduation – Caps and gowns allow graduates to wear BU colors as they receive their diplomas. Graduates often decorate their mortarboards with scarlet and white accents.
– Reunions and homecoming – Alumni reunions like Scarlet and White Weekend involve special apparel and accessories in BU colors. Scarlet and white clothing dominates the crowds at homecoming games.
– Accepted Students Day – Prospective students wear scarlet and white to show their Terrier spirit upon being accepted to the university.
– Spirit wear – Students, alumni, faculty and fans wear BU scarlet and white year-round on t-shirts, sweatshirts, buttons, hats and other spirit gear.
Rallying behind the colors builds a sense of communal identity and Terrier pride associated exclusively with Boston University.
Conclusion
Since their adoption in BU’s earliest days, scarlet and white have defined the university’s visual identity. They adorn athletic uniforms, graduation materials, merchandise and more. BU’s brand standards ensure the colors are applied clearly and consistently across all contexts. Beyond their aesthetic impact, scarlet and white represent the energy, purity and intellect that characterize Boston University and its community. Rallying behind the iconic colors allows all Terriers past and present to proudly proclaim their BU spirit.
