New Prospector Pete stakes his claim

The new and improved Prospector Pete was unveiled Friday in front of a crowd of about 2,000 at The Walter Pyramid in an effort to bring tradition back to Cal State Long Beach athletics.

After roughly 10 years as the symbol of CSULB, the old Prospector Pete handed the reins over to the new, more interactive Pete in between the 2nd and 3rd games of a 49er victory against rival UC Santa Barbara.

Beach Pride Center Coordinator Chance Decker said he hopes to make the new Prospector Pete more iconic than the last.

“Expect to see Pete around campus a lot,” Decker said. “Pete couldn’t walk from the Pyramid to the parking structure in his old suit. Now he can ride through campus on his Segway.”

Decker hopes to get Pete on campus during the school day to increase spirit around campus.

The new Pete comes complete with a pick axe, but mobility seems to be the biggest highlight of Pete’s new design.

“We’re hoping that having a more mobile Pete can get the crowd into the games more,” said Kellie Richardson, a junior history major, who is one of six captains on this year’s cheerleading squad.

In his unveiling, the new Pete proved to be more interactive with the crowd and earned the love of fans of all ages.

“The old Pete used to scare kids,” Richardson said.

The cheer captain is looking forward to incorporating the new and improved Pete into some of the cheerleading routines.

Arjuna Ugarte, a sophomore physiology major, said with more mobility the new Pete can get more energy from the crowd.

Daniel Abarca, a freshman communications major and member of the Beach Patrol, hopes the new Pete could help boost spirit at The Beach above any other Cal State University.

When the New Pete was revealed, he immediately started to pump up the crowd that gathered at The Walter Pyramid.

“The new mascot is so cool,” said freshman Lane Whitney. “It’s more energetic and life-like.”

According to Decker, this is the first of many changes in an effort to bring tradition back to CSULB.

Decker wants to initiate a “Fight Song Night,” where students who attend will receive the lyrics to the school’s fight song.

“We hope to start performing the fight song and alma mater at the end of every victory in the future,” Richardson said.