From Prospector Pete to Elbee the Shark: A History of Mascots at Long Beach State University

California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), also known as Long Beach State University (LBSU) in athletics, has a rich history dating back to its establishment in 1949. Over the years, the university's identity has evolved, and this is reflected in its choice of mascots. From the early days of "Prospector Pete" to the recent adoption of "Elbee the Shark," the mascot history of CSULB tells a story of changing times, evolving values, and a commitment to inclusivity.

The Founding and Early Years

California State University, Long Beach was established in 1949 by California governor Earl Warren, to serve the rapidly expanding post-World War II population of Orange and Southern Los Angeles counties. The institution was first named as Los Angeles-Orange County State College. Carl W. McIntosh was named the college's second president in 1959. While McIntosh was president, the school's enrollment surged from about 10,000 to over 30,000, and he rapidly expanded and revamped the curriculum. McIntosh tripled the number of faculty and constructed 30 new campus buildings. In 1964, the school changed its name to California State College at Long Beach. In 1972, the California State University Board of Trustees elevated the school to university status, along with 12 other state college campuses.

The Era of Prospector Pete

For many years, California State University, Long Beach was represented by "Prospector Pete." The name recognized the campus’s first president, President “Pete” Peterson. The prospector reflected his frequent comments that gold had been discovered on the campus - “the gold of education.” Our founding year of 1949 made “’49ers” an obvious nickname for students and alumni. By 2014, our athletic teams had adopted The Beach as their favorite moniker - a unique choice as no other college team has “beach” in its name. Prospector Pete, the cartoonish mascot with the big head dressed in jeans and a plaid shirt, made fewer and fewer appearances. Pete’s image had no relation to “The Beach” or to the teams’ new uniforms.

Controversy and Change

In recent years, the use of Prospector Pete as a mascot came under scrutiny due to concerns about its historical implications. Officials at California State University, Long Beach, ended the school's use of its mascot, Prospector Pete, over concerns that the use of a settler-era mascot for the school was racially insensitive. The school's president, Jane Close Conoley, announced the end of the mascot's use on Friday in a letter to students and alumni, citing a 2014 decision to begin moving away from the use of the "49er" and "prospector" imagery on its sports teams. In her statement, Conoley linked the prospector imagery to California's gold rush, during which indigenous Americans often endured violence from and were enslaved by settlers in order to build Christian missions.

The Rise of Elbee the Shark

In August 2020, CSULB unveiled its new shark mascot, Elbee, following a 2019 student-led process that selected the shark as Beach's new mascot. While Elbee is a shark, the university's Division I intercollegiate athletics program remains "Beach Athletics". The adoption of Elbee the Shark marks a new chapter in the university's history, one that embraces its unique coastal location and promotes a more inclusive and representative image.

Long Beach State University: A Hub of Excellence

California State University, Long Beach is amongst the most applied to campuses in the California State University system, receiving over 80,000 applicants with an average acceptance rate of 45%. In the Fall 2024 cohort, California State University, Long Beach saw over 83,000 applications from first-time freshmen, while more than 38,000 were granted admission. For masters and doctoral programs in the Fall 2023 cohort, the school received over 10,733 applications, while 3,270 applicants were granted admission.

Campus Life and Culture

The campus spans 323 acres (131 ha) across 84 buildings, and is located 3 miles (5 km) from the Pacific Ocean. CSULB is located at 1250 Bellflower Boulevard. The architecture of the campus is mainly of the International style (designed primarily by architect Edward Killingsworth). It is minimalist. It has earned design awards and awards from gardening societies. The integration of landscaping and architecture is apparent at the school's theater complex, where a dense grove of ficus trees is planted in such a way that it forms a continuation of the pillar-supported canopy at the theater's entrance. The University Student Union (USU) building is located at the center of campus. The three-story glass building occupies roughly 180,000 square feet (17,000 m2), housing numerous offices, and offering more casual attractions, including a study lounge, a ballroom, a food court, a bowling alley, an arcade, and a movie theater. The Rec and Wellness Center is an extensive all-purpose athletic center covering about 125,000 square feet (11,600 m2) on North Campus. It was completed in 2010. It includes facilities for fitness programs and aerobics classes, courts for volleyball, basketball, badminton, rock climbing walls, an indoor track, a student lounge, and much more. Beach basketball and volleyball games are played in the iconic, eighteen-story LBS Financial Credit Union Credit Union Pyramid (formerly known as the Walter Pyramid and the Long Beach Pyramid) located on north campus. The Pyramid is a sporting complex that can accommodate over 5,000 fans, including temporary seating and standing room. The University Art Museum's permanent collection contains primarily abstract expressionist paintings, works on paper, and an outdoor sculpture garden that began in 1966. The UAM was the first accredited museum in the CSU system. In addition, the museum's Gordon F. The Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden is an artistic retreat of solitude and beauty.

Student Activities and Organizations

In addition, there has been a push in recent years to revive the organic gardens on campus, culminating in 2015 with the launch of the Grow Beach University Gardens, a student-led ASI sub-group that promotes organic gardening and sustainable agriculture on campus. The Desert Studies Center is a field station of the California State University located in Zzyzx, California in the Mojave Desert. The purpose of the center is to provide opportunities to conduct research, receive instruction and experience the Mojave Desert environment.

Athletics at the Beach

Long Beach State competes in NCAA Division I in 18 sports teams and plays competitively in baseball, cross country, softball, track and field, women's tennis, and women's soccer, as well as both men's and women's basketball, volleyball, water polo and golf teams. In the realm of sports the school is branded as "Long Beach State". "Beach", which had long been unofficially used to refer to Long Beach State and its sports teams as it is the only university on the West Coast with the word "Beach" in its name, became the official athletic program brand name in the 2020-21 school year. Long Beach State is home to one of the top women's volleyball teams in the nation. Long Beach State has won three national titles in women's volleyball, in 1989, 1993 and 1998. The 1998 women's team was the first team in NCAA Division I history to have an undefeated season. The men’s volleyball has won four national championships in 1991, 2018, 2019 and 2025. The team's most famous alumna is Misty May-Treanor, who won three Olympic gold medals in Beach Volleyball in 2004, 2008, and 2012. Because of the proximity to California State University, Fullerton, the schools are considered rivals.

Notable Alumni

Alumni have written, acted and directed screenplays that have attracted Oscar-caliber talent. David Twohy (BA) co-wrote the screenplay for the Academy Award winning film The Fugitive. Linda Woolverton (BA) wrote the screenplays for the Academy Award-winning, Disney animated films Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King, and the live-action 2010 film Alice in Wonderland. J. F. Lawton (BA) wrote the screenplay to Pretty Woman. Mark Steven Johnson (BA) has co-written and directed the films Daredevil and Ghost Rider. Former students have won at least five Academy Awards. Steven Spielberg (Class of 1969, BA 2002) won two Oscars for Best Directing for Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan and has directed a number of other successful movies such as Jaws, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and Jurassic Park. Former industrial design major John Dykstra, who has been nominated five times for Academy Awards, won two Oscars for his special effects work on the George Lucas film Star Wars and the Sam Raimi film Spider-Man 2. Deborah L. Emmy Award-nominated director Chris Carter (BA) created the series The X-Files, which garnered several awards during its nine seasons on television. Alumni and former students have also participated in the world of sports. Jason Giambi, Evan Longoria, Troy Tulowitzki, Harold Reynolds, Jered Weaver, Steve Trachsel, and Jason Vargas have all been selected to play in the Major League Baseball All Stars games. Matt Duffy won the World Series with the 2014 San Francisco Giants and continues to play with the Los Angeles Angels. Jeff McNeil of the New York Mets won the 2022 NL batting title with an average of .326. Golfer Mark O'Meara (BA 1980) won the Masters Tournament and The Open Championship. Craig Hodges is a two-time NBA Champion, Terrell Davis is a two-time Super Bowl champion and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, and Billy Parks played five seasons in the NFL. Diver Pat McCormick won four gold medals in two consecutive Olympics (Helsinki and Melbourne), and Misty May-Treanor (BS 2002) won three gold medals in women's beach volleyball in three other consecutive Olympics (Athens, Beijing, and London). High Jumper Dwight Stones set the World Record while a student at Cal State Long Beach, in addition to winning the bronze medal at both the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich and 1976 in Montreal. Former students Karen Carpenter and Richard Carpenter (Class of 1972, Honorary Doctorate 2000) of the Carpenters are the namesakes of the Carpenter Performing Arts Center, a 1,065-seat performance hall on the campus of the university that also houses an exhibit on the Carpenters.

Read also: History of the Block 'M'

Read also: Legacy of Fordham University

tags: #university #of #long #beach #mascot #history