President Jane Close Conoley on Friday received and ratified a student-led vote on a new mascot for the university. With 53% of the vote, students selected “sharks” by a wide margin over “stingrays” and the option of having no mascot at all.
This final vote and ratification by Conoley conclude a months-long student-initiated process that first widely solicited ideas for a new mascot, sent semifinalist concepts to a broad community vote, and finally offered up three finalists for a student referendum that ended last week.
The choice of “sharks” aligns with the campus’ renowned Shark Lab and its proximity to the beach.
The university’s previous mascot, “Prospector Pete,” was retired in spring 2018. However, the term “‘49er” remains an informal nickname and identifier for anyone affiliated with the university as an alumnus/alumna, employee, student, or supporter. The term references the institution’s founding year and continues to hold significance as the university recognizes its 70th anniversary this year. Several organizations on campus also use the term, including the Daily ’49er student newspaper and the ’49er Foundation.
“We have benefited from a thoughtful, thorough, and inclusive process by our students,” Conoley said. “I am grateful to all the university’s stakeholders for their participation.”
Selection of the “sharks” now initiates a year-long development process to determine the visual look of the mascot, its personality characteristics, design of mascot uniforms and illustrations, and any associated wordmarks. This, again, will be informed by a multi-stakeholder, inclusive process now led by a university steering committee that will be appointed by Conoley.
The university’s intercollegiate athletics program will continue to use “Beach Athletics” during the coming planning year, and its teams the prefix moniker “Beach” — as in, “Beach Men’s Volleyball,” the team that won the NCAA national championship earlier this month.
California State University, Long Beach is the No. 3 top public university in the western United States, lauded nationally for affordability,?diversity and powering?upward social mobility. Founded in 1949, the 322-acre campus enrolls more than 37,000 students and boasts more than 325,000 alumni who positively impact the community, state and the nation.
