The Pyramid gets sponsor, donations

By Michael Bower and L'Oreal Battistelli
Sports and City Editor
Online Forty-Niner

After 10 years, The Pyramid finally has a sponsor and possibly a new name thanks to university boosters Arline and Mike Walter.

The main attraction at Cal State Long Beach might be renamed the Walter Pyramid in January 2005 because of a donation made by the Walter couple in the amount of $2.1 million, the largest donation made to athletics in school history.

"Renaming is dependent upon a vote of approval by the board of trustees," said Toni Beron, vice president of public affairs and publications. "The recommendation will come from the university in January, which is when the next board of trustees meeting will be held."

"There is an event scheduled recognizing the Walters and the other donors on December 13," she said.

The Walters gave $2.1 million of the total $3.3 million donated to CSULB. The largest donation the university has ever received came from E. James Brotman, the namesake of the administration building, Beron said.

"The combined gift of $3.3 million to the university, $2.3 million of that will be directed towards athletics, and $1 million will be directed toward academics, specifically towards the Edge of Excellence endowment," Beron said. "Of the $3.3 million, $2.1 million is being donated by Mike and Arline Walter, providing the lead gift, and the additional $1.2 million is from an additional five other donors. In recognition of the Walters' lead gift, the university, in January, will recommend to the board of trustees that The Pyramid be renamed the Walter Pyramid."

Mike Walter is the former dean of the College of Business Administration at CSULB and is currently on the City of Long Beach's water commission.

"Mike and Arline have been very enthusiastic supporters of the university since Mike first arrived at the campus several years ago," Beron said. "They've been supportive of athletics in particular, but his donation, I think, demonstrates how much they care about the academic and the athlete successes at Long Beach."

The athletic portion of the donation money will go towards new seating and scoreboards for water polo, track, softball, tennis and soccer. It will also be used for new platinum-row seating in The Pyramid, a new Legacy Walk on The Pyramid and completion of new administration and coaches' offices, according to the Press Telegram.

The other donors include Glenn and Debbie Bickerstaff, Mick and Louise Ukleja, Mark and Janice Dickson, Dick and Joan Vind and Rocky and Julie Suares, according to the Press Telegram.