UPDATE | Cal State Long Beach President Jane Close Conoley announced in an email the timeline for the process of finding a new mascot for the university, to be led by Associated Students, Inc. (ASI).
“Students, alumni, faculty, staff, community members and anyone who is passionate about Long Beach State University” can submit ideas for a new mascot starting Monday, Feb. 11 at 8 a.m. through March 8.
The submissions will be reviewed by a committee throughout the month of March. In April, finalists selected by the committee will be included in an online poll open to the community. The fourth phase will involve a 3-day campus-wide vote for students May 6 – 8, with the results to be announced May 9.
The results of the student vote and online poll will be presented to Conoley as recommendations, who said a final decision will be made no later than June so that the university can begin working on the artwork and the mascot’s physical presence.
The new mascot is expected to make its debut next spring.
“Inclusivity and excellence are at the heart of our mission, and it is vital that we convey these values in all we do,” Conoley stated. “Through the mascot-search process, we can move forward in a way that involves everyone with a stake in the life and history of our campus. This is just one step in our journey forward, but it is an important one.”
For more information and to submit a mascot, visit the new website: Long Beach State University Mascot Search.
PREVIOUSLY: Vote allows Cal State Long Beach students to submit mascot ideas and designs
https://twitter.com/csulbasigov/status/1093301548275253248
2/6/19 at 6:42 p.m. | A resolution passed Wednesday evening by Cal State Long Beach’s Associated Students will allow students to submit ideas and drawings for a new mascot, according to ASI.
The new mascot will replace “Prospector Pete” whose position as school symbol has come under fire given the often brutal treatment with which prospectors treated indigenous people during the California gold rush.
The decision to retire the Prospector character has come under heavy criticism, especially from alumni but, in many ways, the school moved away from the character years ago. Its very successful baseball program is known and markets itself as “The Dirtbags” while all other school athletic programs have long referred to themselves as “The Beach” or simply “Beach.”
The announcement comes as The Post is wrapping up its own unofficial Long Beach State mascot contest. Twenty-one entries were submitted and readers were asked to vote online for their favorite. As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, more than 3,600 votes had been cast. Winners will be announced Friday evening.