After nearly three decades of unofficial nicknames, including Professors and Wampus
Cats, student body votes to adopt the Aztec moniker. The decision to choose the Aztec
as a moniker was in conjunction with preliminary plans to move to a new campus and
was done in unison with changing the name of the school newspaper to ‘The Aztec’ and
featuring a yearbook with prominent Aztec symbols.
1937
SDSU unveiled acclaimed sculptor Donal Hord’s black diorite piece, titled ‘Aztec.’
This highly acclaimed Works Progress Administration-funded sculpture was the centerpiece
of campus for many decades.
1941
For the first time, a student portrays an Aztec in a football game skit. The character
becomes known as “Monty Montezuma.” Over time, the character’s apparel is adjusted
to become more historically accurate.
2000
Associated Students’ University Council passes a resolution, backed by the Native
American Student Alliance, that calls for retiring the Aztec moniker and Montezuma
mascot because they are racist and culturally insensitive.
The University Council puts the issue to a student vote, and students vote to keep
the Aztec moniker and mascot.
The University Senate, comprised of faculty and staff, votes to retain the moniker
while retiring the Montezuma mascot.
The Alumni Association board votes to support the moniker and mascot.
SDSU President Stephen Weber appoints a task force to make recommendations on the
Aztec moniker and Montezuma mascot.
2001
Task force recommends updating logos and symbols to be culturally appropriate and
historically accurate; defining Montezuma as an ambassador but not as a mascot; educating
the university community on Aztec history and culture; and strengthening programs
and events that support indigenous communities.
Weber decides that the Monty Montezuma name should be dropped, the costume should
be made historically accurate and the character should have a regal bearing.
2002
Ambassador Montezuma debuts to speak on Aztec history and culture at events, but he
is poorly received.
Alumni form the Aztec Warrior Foundation and unveil an unofficial, more historically
accurate Aztec Warrior representation.
2003
Associated Students approves a resolution from the Native American Student Alliance
and Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlán to oppose the Aztec Warrior and hold
a student referendum to vote on “non-human” mascots.
The Aztec Warrior becomes official through a referendum vote of students and alumni.
2010
SDSU debuts Zuma, a jaguar mascot, at football games. The jaguar was retired in 2012.
2014
Queer People of Color Collective back a resolution to abolish the use of “Aztec” and
the Aztec Warrior, which is rejected by the Associated Students University Council.
2017
Associated Students University Council rejects a resolution to retire the Aztec moniker
and Aztec Warrior.
University Senate votes to end human representation of an Aztec and to stop representing
the culture with spears or weapons that “connote barbaric representations of the Aztec
culture.” The resolution calls for forming a task force to consider the use of the
Aztec moniker and education related to the Aztec identity.
2018
February: SDSU President Sally Roush appoints a 17-member Aztec Identity Task Force comprised
of students, faculty, staff, alumni and members at large.
April 30: The Aztec Identity Task Force recommends to SDSU President Sally Roush that SDSU
retain the Aztec moniker; it is divided on the Aztec Warrior. Among other recommendations,
the task force suggests the use of a variety of Aztec symbols, providing education
on the Aztec culture and supporting indigenous cultures.
May 17: SDSU President Sally Roush reports to the University Senate her decisions to continue
the use of the Aztec identity. She also establishes a governing authority, chaired
by the president, to ensure recognition of and reverence for the Aztec civilization
become part of daily life at SDSU.