R.I.P., Prospectin' Pete (c.1967-2018)

In a grotesque move based on the continuing trend of political correctness on college campuses nationwide, the university today officially "retired" its physical mascot representative for athletics, Prospector Pete.  Use of the mascot has ended at athletic events for the past couple of years.  A statue on upper campus called "The Prospector", which was dedicated in 1967 according to the CSULB website, is slated to eventually be moved to a planned Alumni Center across from the Pyramid.  Fundraising efforts for this center are in their infancy. 

It's not certain if the 49'rs nickname will also be changed or eliminated, though some recent media reports claim a change to "1949ers", silly as that sounds.  The athletic department has also de-emphasized the 49ers nickname in recent years, favoring The Beach.  The "Dirtbags" name for Baseball, though seemingly more offensive, is not affected.

Per my recollections of my time as a student at LBSU, there really wasn't a presence of a Pete mascot at events until the late 1980's or early 1990's.  Before that, there were a couple of years of a leggy Blonde in a cowboy hat and boots wearing a large foam "49'rs" prancing around at football games, and of course, the dreaded multi-colored, sunglasses-wearing "Beach Ball".  The "Prospectin' Pete" nickname didn't even come about until students voted for it in the late 1980's.

The saddest part of this whole controversy, to me, is that the alleged reasons for dropping the mascot are based on a mistaken, or purposefully politically advanced, interpretation of history, claiming California Gold Rush prospectors committed "genocide" on the region's native residents.  Thus, a seemingly innocuous image honoring the state's history, also chosen because of the school's founding year, becomes demonized.

Obviously, I'm not in favor of this decision, but I understand it in the current political climate. 

Personally, I am a 49er/Forty-Niner, and always will be.  I also like the BE/\CH.  These are our brands and identity, and I hope they are not monkeyed with any further.  Otherwise, i'd be in favor of nobody having either mascots or nicknames of any kind.  But I'm sure even that would wind up offending someone.  😠

GO 49ERS
GO BEACH
GO DIRTBAGS