Faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members celebrated the dedication of the Titan statue, located in O’Brien Square.
Elephants never forget, according to an old saying, and the Titan community now has one of its own that will live long in Titans’ memories for generations to come.
On Tuesday, Cal State Fullerton faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members celebrated the dedication of the campus’s new Titan statue, a massive bronze elephant sculpture that university leaders described as a symbol that “reflects the ambitions and pride of Titans past, present and future.”
A monument years in the making, the Titan statue was made possible through campuswide collaboration and generosity. The Cal State Fullerton Alumni Association, Associated Students Inc., and Cal State Fullerton Philanthropic Foundation Board of Governors gathered campuswide feedback, oversaw the design and contributed funds for the creation of the statue. Individuals also contributed to the project.
Alum Scott O’Brien, left, and CSUF President Ronald Rochon
“The Titan statue demonstrates what happens when our community unites for a common cause,” said CSUF President Ronald Rochon at the Sept. 15 dedication ceremony. “For years, members of this Titan family believed that Cal State Fullerton deserved a campus symbol that would bring people together and reflect Titan pride and their vision. Now, that symbol stands before us.”
He noted that the Titan statue also is a testament to “our dedicated service to students across 70 years – and for years to come,” and underscored the university’s commitment to student success.
The 22-foot-high statue is located at O’Brien Family Square between the Humanities-Social Sciences Building, Gordon Hall and Langsdorf Hall. The artist Matthew Gray Palmer said the statue weighs more than 14,000 lbs., and is made of bronze, which he cast into an estimated 70 pieces.
University supporters Deanna and Scott O’Brien
The statue’s location honors the O’Brien family, who contributed funds for the sculpture, for their ongoing commitment to the project and support of their alma mater. Scott and Deanna O’Brien said that higher education has always been at the core of who they are as a family. They said they chose to support the project because it embodies the Titan pride that defines Cal State Fullerton and its community.
“This monument honors every Titan who helped build this campus, those who shaped our traditions, strengthened our spirit and left Cal State Fullerton better than they found it,” said Steven George, vice president for university advancement. “Born from a student-led vision and brought to life through partnership and generosity, this statue reflects what it means to be a Titan: strength and resilience, wisdom and purpose, good fortune and possibility, and above all, community.”
ASI President Cesar Mendoza
ASI President Cesar Mendoza compared the new landmark to the well-known Titans letters outside of the Titan Student Union.
Over the years, the campus community has transformed the Titans letters into a popular spot for graduation photos, campus tours and more. Mendoza said students will do the same with the Titan statue, adopting it into CSUF’s campus culture and helping define its legacy for future generations.
“Those letters give us a shared space and a shared symbol that immediately says: This is Titan territory. I see this elephant complementing that tradition,” Mendoza said. “The Titan statue is finally here, and what it will mean to Cal State Fullerton will be shaped by the students who gather around it, take pictures with it and make it part of their Titan experience.”