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Pitt Magazine

The name game: Cathy vs. Cathedral

By
Nora Smith

An aerial photo of the Cathedral rendered to look like a painting

The following first appeared in the Fall 2026 issue of Pitt Magazine, as part of celebrating the centennial of the Cathedral’s 1926 groundbreaking.

 

If you’ve walked across the Pittsburgh campus in the past quarter century or so, you’ve likely heard plenty of discussion about one very popular lady: “Cathy is so tall and beautiful.” “I just have to make it over to Cathy by 2.” “Hey, there’s Cathy!”

“Cathy” has been a beloved, if somewhat controversial, moniker for the Cathedral of Learning for going on two decades. It’s hard to say who coined the term and forever personified the landmark, but our research found appearances on social media as far back as 2013 and other early uses on the Pitt Reddit page in 2014 on a thread about campus ghosts.

The words "Cathedral of Learning" and the number "100," flanked by a sketch of the Cathedral building
As Pitt looks back on the September 1926 groundbreaking of the Cathedral of Learning, check out additional stories, photos, a timeline and more from the now century-old history of the University's campus in the sky.

The term picked up steam throughout the late 2010s, and by the time a new decade rolled around, the debate was full-fledged: Cathy or Cathedral?

While there are outspoken naysayers of the nickname — often calling for respect toward the building and its significance — there’s no denying its popularity. In a recent poll of users across Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok, the truncated “Cathy” won over the more traditional “Cathedral” with 58% of the overall vote. That’s up from about 52% in a similar survey from 2022. (We welcome letters from any Cathedral loyalists who wish to voice their dismay at our far-from-scientific findings.)

The truth is that Pitt’s culture is rich with nicknames: 

Just look to the Petersen Events Center (colloquially “the Pete”) or Chancellor Emeritus Mark Nordenberg (namesake of Nordy’s). Referring to those hallowed halls as “Cathy” is just the latest way that students — and, contrary to popular belief, many faculty, staff and alumni—participate in that culture.

One thing is clear: Pitt people are as passionate about how they refer to the Cathedral of Learning as they are about the building itself. Some view the Cathedral with reverence and awe, an icon of towering ambition; others turn to Cathy as a font of connection and community, the harbor they’ll always call home. The most beautiful thing about the University’s defining structure is its refusal to be defined by any single person, purpose or pseudonym. The Cathedral, Cathy, belongs to us all — no matter what we call it.

A blue T-shirt and a gold T-shirt
These “Cathy” or “Cathedral of Learning” T-shirts were a hot commodity when Pitt first polled social media users in 2022 on their moniker preference.