By After months of deliberation, the campus community has finally decided to move an iconic statue that students have walked past at Long Beach State for 51 years, in response to a growing argument that Prospector Pete may be a symbol of genocide.
Adding to this change will be a campus-wide discussion to find a new mascot for the school.
“In terms of finalizing a new mascot, I don’t want to give a too ambitious timeline. Change is coming soon,” said Leen Almahdi, vice president of Associated Students Inc.
According to President Jane Close Conoley, a group of students, faculty, alumni and staff have come to an agreement to move the statue, formally known as the “Forty-Niner Prospector,” from the plaza outside Liberal Arts 5. Current plans suggest the statue will be relocated to a new alumni center, which is still in the early stages of development.
ASI Senate passed a resolution last March to change the statue’s location. The resolution recognizes the violence that prospectors inflicted upon Indigenous peoples during the California Gold Rush and seeks to disassociate the campus from a symbol of genocide. Despite the statue’s controversy over recent years, the statue cannot be destroyed under the Visual Artists Rights Act.
“Prospectors did play a huge role in Indigenous genocide and although we do really appreciate the history of our university, we also want to acknowledge the history of Indigenous peoples and choose [a] mascot that is one, reflective of the diversity that we have on campus, and two, that honors our mission for inclusivity,” Almahdi said.
Craig Stone, program director of the American Indian Studies department, praised the decision to move away from Prospector Pete.
“For somebody who’s been involved since 1976, it’s just so cool,” Stone said. “Finally, the students rallied and … that’s like something awesome.”
Stone noted that at the time of LBSU’s inception, the campus was primarily populated by Anglo and Judeo-Christian students.
“…You’re taught about the genocide that happens in Europe, [but] not taught about the genocide that happened in your own state,” Stone said. “For us, [the 49er mascot] is an icon of genocide.”
University administration has also reached out to Forty-Niner Shops, asking to not restock inventory on shirts sporting Prospector Pete after its remaining items with the mascot run out.
The ASI Senate agreed to write up a referendum for a finalizing a new mascot, with one rule.
“The Cal State University system has asked us to stay away from people [as mascots],” Conoley said.
Lee Brown, a 1960 Long Beach State alumnus, retired journalism department faculty member, former ASI treasurer and Daily 49er editor, said the university should not prioritize the removal of the statue.
“I think what they need to do is get rid of Prospector Pete right after they get rid of [Reserve Officers’ Training Corps],” Brown said. “The ROTC and the U.S. Army killed a hell of a lot more Native Americans than Prospector Pete and the 49ers did. As soon as they talk about getting rid of ROTC, they can talk about getting rid of Prospector Pete.”
Brown said he’s one of the university’s alums who purchased an engravement on one of the brick’s surrounding the statue.
“[I paid] about $125 to buy a brick with my name on it at the foot of Prospector Pete,” Brown said. “And if they do anything to take away Pete, I want my money back.”
Emma DiMaggio contributed to this story.
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This is just embarrassing. I knew when I was attending LBSU that the 49er name came about because the school was founded in 1949, 100 years after the gold rush of 1849. Generally speaking, people tend to link the pioneers, not just 49ers, to many of the issues that the indigenous peoples have faced. How about that cars are just the modern day version of covered wagons which were used to bring pioneers and 49ers to populate and displace the indigenous people, so lets get rid of the parking lots! It would easier to make a more direct link between the Walter Pyramid on campus and the oppression of the Jewish people during the time of Moses and Pharaoh! Let’s get rid of the Pyramid!
So, San Francisco, arguably the most liberal city in the state, doesn’t seem to have any problem with their 49ers. How did this become a thing at all at LBSU? Embarrassing.
I have donated in the past and purchased a brick also. I’m done.
P.S. I never cared for Prospector Pete as a mascot. But I’m a 49er. If you change that, you’re breaking a bond I have with this school.
This is political correctness run amok. Prospector Pete is not in any way racist, and the American Indian professor spouting lies about a fictional “indigenous genocide” should be fired. As a history major alumnus, I will not ever donate a single cent to this university if they remove the statue. This is obviously an attempt by the communists to ethnically cleanse white culture from the university.
Are we so Politically Correct these days that we can’t recognize a hard working entrepreneurial white male prospector trying to eke out a living for his family in the hardscrabble mountains and rivers of California? When I view the statue—Pete looks like he could be Hispanic. If he were, or gay or transgender would you have moved the art piece? If he were a prospector of color would he have been moved or accused of violence toward Native Americans? If our mascot were Calamity Jane or Annie Oakley would we be burying her in a rarely seen Alumni Area? I think not.
I will at once change my will so that CSULB will no longer be named as a recipient. Hope all the indigenous people will make up the difference. This is a complete afront to me.
And the Indians are also guilty of genocide. Some tribes wiped out other tribes. But because they’re not white, they get a pass. in teh case of prospetors, I’d be willing to bet the Indians fired the first shot. Can that be disproved, or won’t it pass the PC smell test.
Very funny that the VP of USI is Leen Almahdi. “Almahdi” is the name of an Islamic Caliphate who slaughtered over 70,000 people in 700 AD, you can google it. If anyone is looking for genocide perhaps she should start by changing her name, no? Oh wait only Europeans can commit genocide. This is a joke and slap in the face to people who focus on intellectual life rather than vanity. – Class of 2017
“The Cal State University system has asked us to stay away from people [as mascots],” Conoley said. So animal mascots are safe? Perhaps we can have a chicken as our new mascot. We can name it “Conoley the Cuck” or something along those lines. In honor of President Conoley allowing the PC clowns to ruin our BEACH!
So they want to rid Prospector Pete (a gold miner) because it represents genocide? Do these PC clowns / politicians know that there is a gold miner of the seal of California? Explain that to me please..
So Prospector Pete (A gold miner) represents genocide? Do these PC clowns/politicians know there is a gold miner on the seal of California. Explain that one to me.
Honestly, I feel that the money should be used for something more important like paying Professors with better wages, fixing old buildings, and add new classes that are needed then relocating a statue just because a small number of people feel uncomfortable. Last time I attended CSULB, the art department was still in need of fixing, professors were being let go, and classes were being cut. The money should come out of their own pockets, not the school’s.
Hello and Good Day,
I wanted you give you my student email address for future reference. Let me know if you a photographer at anytime, if it works with my schudule. But please let me know about art show in locate areas..
PS: I will stop and say hug and hello, Life is to precious these days
Sincerely,
Leann W. McElhaney
Honestly, I feel the money should be used for something more important like paying the professors, adding more classes that are needed, and fixing school buildings then relocating a statue just because a small number of people are uncomfortable by it. The last time I was in CSULB, the art department was in need of fixing, professors were being let go, and classes were getting cut out. If these people want to get rid of the statue, it should come out of their own pockets, not the school’s.
Those who seek to erase history are
those who are destined to repeat it.
The prospector is a symbol of the determination and perseverance of those who left behind everything to travel to California for a better life. Though a rugged and lawless landscape, most men and women worked hard to make a living and support their families and never hurt or took anything from indigenous people or other ethnic minorities. Most of the atrsosities of the time are attributed to the construction of railroads where land was stolen from Native Americans and Chinese and African Americans were treated harshly and paid low wages.
So do today’s students and faculty no longer value the determination and perseverance of working hard for a better life? Isn’t that why most people choose to move to this country?
What a bunch of weak willed, weak minded children. Finding fault, constantly changing and constructing the narrative around what is “offensive”. Not that old of an alumn and I’m embarrassed that we allow a soft minority of people who find reasons to be offended. No doubt the people advocating this have zero respect for the University’s history, and most definitely don’t support or donate to our athletic programs.
Jane, you’re weak and you don’t represent the large amounts of alumni who disagree with this decision.
I agree with Professor Stone. About damn time.
Alumna 2012
James you and the rest of the people responsible for this decision are ignorant PC fools not to mention irrational! Congratulations I will never donate another dime this University!
Sorry Daniel, but based on the official .gov inflation calculator $125 in August of 1960 is the equivalent to $1,064.81 today. So the $150 offer is a complete slap in the face to Mr. Brown! The university should offer to pay all brick holders $1500-2000 if the statue is removed from its current location. Maybe the American Indian Studies department can sell cookies and soy milk to help fund the cost!
This is hilarious and beyond ridiculous. What’s next, the removal of the Walter Pyramid because its offensive to those with Egyptian origins? Spend your time fixing real problems instead of these non-issues
I will pay Lee Brown a hundred a fifty bucks. Please help me make arrangements.