San Diego State University (SDSU) has passed a resolution to retire the Aztec Warrior mascot, which has been criticized for perpetuating harmful stereotypes of Native Americans. The Aztec Warrior’s aggressive body language, use of a spear at special events, and the slogan “fear the spear” have been cited as examples of Native American violence and danger. In 2015, American Indian Studies professor Ozzie Monge revived the fight to drop the Aztec mascot and authored a thesis arguing against its name and depiction at SDSU.
SDSU’s senate, made up of faculty members, is pushing to make a big change on campus after it passed a resolution to retire the Aztec warrior mascot. The university will retain the Aztec moniker but create a more culturally sensitive version of its mascot. SDSU will also make changes to honor the Aztec culture and will refer to the Aztec Warrior as “spirit leader, not mascot”.
The decision was informed by the work of a 17-member Associated Student Council. The two-part resolution was passed 52-15, with two abstentions, to retire all human representations of the school’s current mascot and to establish a task force to investigate the appropriateness of the continued usage. Critics argue that having a subjugated people as a mascot is a relic of 20th-century racism that most state and national academic, professional, and athletic bodies have.
SDSU’s mascot is considered a proud tradition that should stay, but opponents argue it is racist and needs to end. The SDSU Senate passed a resolution Tuesday urging officials to develop recommendations for a new mascot to replace the Aztec Warrior.
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What was the Aztec problem?
The Aztec people faced significant challenges when the Spanish arrived, including the introduction of smallpox, which caused widespread disease and a significant population decline. The Aztecs, who had no immunity to European diseases, were unable to resist the Spanish, leading to the deaths of half of Tenochtitlán’s inhabitants. Additionally, the Aztecs had technological disadvantages, as their weapons were not as advanced as the Spanish, who had guns, cannons, and metal armor. This gap in technological advancement greatly disadvantaged the Aztecs.
Is SDSU changing their mascot?
SDSU President Sally Roush has announced that the university will maintain its Aztec identity and designate the Aztec Warrior as a “spirit leader” who will behave with dignity and avoid misrepresenting Aztec culture. Roush has called for a governing body to address Aztec identity issues and the ethical and fiduciary responsibility of carrying the Aztec name. The Aztec Culture Education Committee (ACEC), formed in 2016-2017, will reconvene and be institutionalized to introduce additional cultural and co-curricular programming related to Aztec history and culture.
What is the history behind the SDSU Aztec mascot?
The Aztec moniker, chosen by students in 1925, has been a significant identifier for thousands of SDSU students, faculty, staff, and alumni. The university is committed to providing resources and structures to ensure respect, accuracy, and pride in invoking the spirit leader. The university focuses on education, respect, and restorative treatment around the Aztec name, incorporating both the pre-Contact Aztec Empire and contemporary peoples into the curriculum and campus culture.
An additional process is being launched to develop new iconography, including artwork, symbols, and other visual elements, to enhance education and recognition of the Aztec identity. The university plans to engage faculty, staff, students, alumni representatives, and members of the Native and Indigenous communities over a year-long process to develop recommendations for new images that align with the university’s Aztec identity.
Why did SDSU choose the Aztecs?
The author expresses their opinion on the potential removal of the Aztec warrior mascot at San Diego State University (SDSU), which has been known as Aztecs since 1925. The Aztec warrior symbolizes the institution’s Southwestern heritage and is often associated with a ferocious and dominant culture. However, protests led to the replacement of the cartoonish Monty Montezuma with a more historically accurate Aztec warrior in 2001. The author questions why the Aztec mascot is considered a racist relic at SDSU.
Why is SDSU not called Cal State?
President Love fought to elevate SDSC from a college to a university, leading to its renaming to “San Diego State University” (SDSU) in 1974. In 1987, SDSU became the largest university in California and 10th in the nation. However, due to overwhelming student numbers and available facilities, the school was limited to 33, 000 students. In 1993, enrollment dropped to 26, 800, the lowest since 1973, due to the 1991 budget crisis. SDSU was ranked first among the CSU campuses in 1984 and among the top five comprehensive universities in the west in 1983, 1985, and 1989.
The College of Business’s School of Accountancy was the only accredited accountancy program in California in the 1980s. Students consistently scored high on the Certified Public Accountancy (CPA) exam, making SDSU second in the nation by 1990.
What is SDSU reputation?
San Diego State University, founded in 1897, is a leading public research institution known for its transformative experiences for over 36, 000 students. The university is recognized for its research, international experiences, sustainability initiatives, internships, mentoring, and diverse student life and leadership opportunities. As a national leader in higher education, SDSU is committed to excellence and advancing diversity and inclusion. It ranks No.
1 in the California State University system for federal research output and is a long-standing Hispanic-Serving Institution. SDSU is nationally recognized for its study abroad initiatives, veterans programs, support of LGBTQIA+ students, and Division I athletics program. The university is also a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT Into Diversity. The university’s rich campus life and ideal location provide opportunities for students to engage with the creative and performing arts, career and internship opportunities, and the vibrant cultural life of the greater San Diego and U. S.-Mexico region.
What was the biggest misconception about the Aztecs?
The Spanish were horrified by the Aztecs’ belief in deities that demanded blood and hearts from their worshippers, especially when they were obtained brutally. The Aztecs did not consider sacrifice pleasurable, but it was necessary for the earth to turn. The Spanish tortured and maimed those considered heretics, burning them at the stake, throwing them into spike pits, and attacking them with ferocious mastifs.
Both Aztecs and Spaniards committed carnage in the name of a god, and the Aztecs were known for their ferocious approach to war, with warriors having the mission of killing opponents or taking them home to be sacrificed.
Why is SDSU not called CSUSD?
President Love fought to elevate SDSC from a college to a university, leading to its renaming to “San Diego State University” (SDSU) in 1974. In 1987, SDSU became the largest university in California and 10th in the nation. However, due to overwhelming student numbers and available facilities, the school was limited to 33, 000 students. In 1993, enrollment dropped to 26, 800, the lowest since 1973, due to the 1991 budget crisis. SDSU was ranked first among the CSU campuses in 1984 and among the top five comprehensive universities in the west in 1983, 1985, and 1989.
The College of Business’s School of Accountancy was the only accredited accountancy program in California in the 1980s. Students consistently scored high on the Certified Public Accountancy (CPA) exam, making SDSU second in the nation by 1990.
What is the Aztec controversy at SDSU?
The Aztec Warrior, used for athletic games and merchandise by the San Diego State University, has been criticized for its cultural appropriateness. Students have argued that the depiction of the Aztec mascot as a racialized stereotype of Native Americans and as racist is a result of its use since 1925. The university claims that the Aztec mascot evolved into the recognizable depiction of Montezuma in 1941.
What is the origin of the San Diego Padres mascot?
The Swinging Friar, a popular mascot for the San Diego Padres, has been with the team since 1958. Named after the Spanish Franciscan friars who founded Mission San Diego de Alcalá, the city of San Diego emerged in the 18th century. The Padres joined Major League Baseball in 1969 and kept the popular mascot until 1984. In 1996, he was brought back as a sleeve patch for the club’s blue alternate jerseys. The Swinging Friar is a cartoon-like character, pudgy, bald, and always smiling.
He is dressed as a friar with a tonsure, sandals, a dark hooded cloak, and a rope around the waist. He swings a baseball bat, swinging left-handed, right-handed, ambidextrous, or switch hitters. On home game Sundays, the Friar wears a special camouflage cloak to honor San Diego’s military background. The character rings a mission bell at home games immediately after a win.
Why did SDSU change their logo?
The SDSU has redesigned its logo to reflect its traditional look, using red and black colors to convey strength and pride in the Aztec culture. The interlocking spear in the logo is a symbol of strength and pride. The biggest challenge was to create a logo that reflected SDSU and the Aztecs. However, there has been speculation about a possible rebranding after the Aztec warrior mascot debate in October 2014. The spear’s controversial nature remains a concern for some community members.
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As a native American and college football fan, I see no wrong with the Utah Utes and San Diego State Aztecs (names, mascots, icons, images etc) Actually, it us a great way to expose and promote knowledge about ancient cultures, our history, our roots and traditions and our ancestors would definitely approve of any positive remembrance specially sports, physical activity and learning. Go Aztecs! 💪👍
People get offended when their culture is being endorsed and displayed and kept alive as a positive symbol but then also get mad and complain that society is forgetting their culture and not doing enough to teach the community about their heritage. So why can’t they just pick one side and stick with it? They are gonna complain either way, they are never going to be satisfied. They change sides depending on how it benefits their narrative.