Spirit of CSUMB’s mascot embodied in new statue

By Mark Muckenfuss

With the cue of a dramatic drum roll, a crowd of about 500 people counted down – “Five, four three...” – before a blue tarp was pulled away to reveal Cal State Monterey Bay’s new mascot statue. A roar went up from the assembled students, faculty, staff and local dignitaries gathered in the entry plaza of the Otter Student Union, and the Marina High School Marching Band filled the air with music. 

The nine-foot-tall bronze sculpture, “Otters for Life,” created by once-local artist Edward Eyth, is the culmination of a year-long effort made possible largely by private donations. It depicts two sea otters at play in the ocean. Very often, mascot statues portray a single figure, but CSUMB President Vanya Quiñones told the crowd that didn’t seem right for the university.

“From the beginning, we knew it couldn’t be just one otter,” Quiñones said, “so we have two otters to commemorate our Otter Raft. We’re all interconnected. We must continue to be together as a raft.”

CSUMB students are regularly reminded that otters in the wild will link arms, particularly at night, in order to keep their community together and safe. Students are encouraged to figuratively “raft up” in order to support one another. 

Quiñones said the raft doesn’t stop at the university’s property line. She welcomed local donors and dignitaries who attended, including past CSUMB presidents Peter Smith and Dianne Harrison and mayors from the surrounding cities, while noting that the raft expands into the community.

“It took a village to do this,” she said. 

Plenty of alumni showed up for the event, but the crowd was dominated by students. Fourth-year biology major Ayanna Nakatsu-Dedios was among them.

“I feel like it’s about time we have something here,” she said of the formerly empty OSU plaza. “I think we’re going to come and high-five the otters just before finals.”

Haleigh Fagundes, a senior majoring in Humanities and Communication, had something more permanent in mind.

“I’m taking grad pictures here,” she said, indicating the area in front of the OSU, “and I’m going to take some in front of the statue.”

Fagundes’s friend Karzell McMillian was a bit more philosophical.

“It’s a symbol of the students,” he said, noting that he’s been on other university campuses and seen giant letters representing the schools. “I think this is more personal.”

Quiñones encouraged students not only to honor what’s being called the campus’ centerpiece of pride, but to have some fun with it as well. 

“This statue is full of magic,” she said. “It will help all of us. If you’re lost and you don’t find the people on your raft, touch the hand of the otter and that will guide you to your people. Touch the nose to pass your exams. I think this is a lot of fun and I hope you will continue the tradition.”

Prior to leading the unveiling countdown, Ben Corpus, vice president of Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, put the installation in perspective. 

“This isn’t just a sculpture,” Corpus said. “It’s a representation of our identity ... who we are, where we’re going.”

Otters provide a good example for students not only in the supportive nature of the animals, but also in their notable curiosity, he added. 

Getting close to the statue after the unveiling proved a bit of a challenge as throngs of people clustered around it to take photos. At one point, the Otter Softball team squeezed in for a group portrait. Assistant coach Michaela Velazquez said the team planned ahead for the shot.

“We’ve been waiting all week for this,” Velazquez said. “We’ve been talking about it at practice. We make an emphasis every day at practice of building the Raft. This is a symbol of the university and the mascot as a whole.”

OSU director Jeff Rensel said he thinks the statue will add a welcoming touch to the plaza. 

“I love that we have such an iconic symbol in front of the OSU for our community to experience,” Rensel said. “It’s going to be a highlight on campus tours.”

Quiñones said she didn’t think the event could have gone much better. 

“It’s great, isn’t it, to have the whole community celebrating something that’s us?” she said. “It’s been an amazing day.”