DATELINE: April Fool’s Day
BALTIMORE, MD – In an announcement that has the campus buzzing, the University of
Baltimore revealed today that it will be replacing Eubie with a new, more entomologically
correct, Bee mascot. The new mascot is the bee sculpture from the collection of UBalt graduate Samuel G. Rose that resides in the patio area of RLB Library.
Officially christened "R.L. Bee", the bee sculpture designed by artist Colin Selig and crafted from recycled propane tanks is reflective of a bold new direction for UBalt. "We wanted a mascot that truly reflects our values of sustainability, industrial innovation, and Baltimore's working-class roots," said a university spokesperson while standing beside the imposing metallic bug. "R.L. Bee embodies all of that—plus, it's virtually indestructible, which is more than we can say for most mascot costumes."
University officials acknowledge that transporting R.L. Bee to events on and off campus
will present "minor logistical considerations." The mascot requires a specialized
crane, a reinforced pallet jack and a team of at least six trained handlers to move
safely.
"Sure, most mascots can just walk into an event," said a university spokesperson.
"But can they withstand being outdoors throughout a typical Baltimore March where
temperatures go from summer-like to winter-like and back in the space of a few days?
I think not."
Don't miss the opportunity to have lunch with our new mascot (when the weather is
nice). You can access to the RLB outdoor patio, which includes tables, chairs and
the opportunity to see R.L. Bee up close, from the 1st floor of RLB Library.
APRIL FOOLS!
R.L. Bee isn't actually replacing Eubie as the University of Baltimore's mascot. The
bee sculpture is indeed on display in the library courtyard, and you are welcome to
bring a lunch and dine on one of the tables in our outdoor patio. However, Eubie's
job as mascot is safe.
The origin of the Bees nickname is a bit of a mystery, but it seems to have taken
root in the early 1930s. Before then, the University of Baltimore's athletic teams
were referred to as the Maroons. A check of RLB Library & Archives' Student Publication Collection shows that there was a student publication called the Maroon in 1933, but that its name changed to the Maroon Bee by 1934. The Baltimore Sun referred to the University of Baltimore’s Basketball team as “The Bees” in an article about local college basketball games fron January 1934. RLB’s Special Collections & Archives has copies of the former student newspaper called The Balloo which started referring to the University's athletic teams as both the Maroons and
the Bees as early as October 1935. UBalt did have a maroon bee as its mascot in the
the past. 
It may have taken a little longer for the Bee to become the official moniker. A perusal of Univeristy of Baltimore yearbooks shows that the athletic teams were referred to as the Maroons in 1935. We do not
have a copy of the 1936 yearbook, but the 1937 yearbook cover features a bee, and
the Bees moniker shows up in that edition.
To learn more, see The UBalt Mascot: Meet Eubie the Bee.
Happy April Fools' Day from the University of Baltimore!