SDSU's Aztec Warrior will no longer dance with the cheerleaders or do celebratory pushups in the endzoneGETTY IMAGES
San Diego State Univ. will "keep the word Aztec as its nickname but create a more culturally sensitive version of its mascot in a decision that reflects nearly 20 years of racially charged debate about how the school treats indigenous people," according to a front-page piece by Gary Robbins of the SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE. SDSU President Sally Roush said, "The Aztec Warrior ... will be retained, but as Spirit Leader, not mascot. We just expect a much more dignified and appropriate demeanor from that person. You won't see the Aztec Warrior doing pushups in the endzone. You won't see the Aztec Warrior dancing with the cheerleaders." Robbins notes Roush "heavily based her decision on a report produced by a 17-member task force of faculty, students, alumni and community." The task force report "led Roush to decide that the words Monty and Zuma will no longer be used in the name of certain awards that are granted by the university." Roush said that the university could "revisit the issue in the future if there are reasons to." Roush added that her decision to keep the Aztec name "was in no way influenced by fundraising," but the need for money "isn't a minor issue." SDSU and its boosters are "seeking the right to turn the SDCCU stadium property in Mission Valley into a satellite campus that would feature a 35,000 seat stadium, 1.6 million square feet of academic and research space, housing and commercial developments." The proposal is "competing with a similar initiative known as SoccerCity" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 5/18).
