![]() ![]() It is a powerful example for our entire community to emulate as we embrace respect as the foundation for our actions now and in the future.” “They also provided an example of respectful discourse and civility regarding a deeply divisive matter. “The task force members did indeed provide a solid framework,” she said. Roush also thanked SDSU students, other faculty and staff, alumni and community members for providing leadership and sharing their viewpoints. Roush thanked the University Senate for its leadership in calling for a reevaluation of the Aztec identity in light of contemporary conditions. It is incumbent upon us all to act with respect as we move forward.” We must recognize that historical acts and current-day thoughtless disregard constitute a hard reality. “I acknowledge that those who are offended and hurt have legitimate reasons. “The majority voices have not prevented any of us from hearing the voices of those who are deeply offended and hurt by this outcome,” Roush said. Roush said the status of the Aztec Warrior was “the most challenging and difficult decision” to make. The Aztec name and Aztec Warrior were found to be important sources of pride for the collective majority of students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members who opted to share their viewpoints with Roush and the task force. Survey respondents left 6,128 comments, which the task force reviewed, finding overwhelming support in favor of retaining the Aztec name and Aztec Warrior. SDSU disseminated a total of 200,584 surveys, and 12,755 surveys were completed. ![]() They also considered the results of a major SDSU survey involving students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members. Members reviewed the 2001 task force report and recommendations related to the Aztec identity. The task force conducted interviews and studied scholarly research on the Aztec culture as well as native and indigenous communities. The task force was convened in February 2018, following the University Senate’s passage of a non-binding resolution recommending that SDSU create a task force to evaluate the university’s Aztec identity and retire the Aztec Warrior and related symbols. Roush’s decisions were informed by the work of a 17-member task force of students, faculty, staff, alumni and members at large. SDSU will also make changes to honor the Aztec culture and will henceforth refer to the Aztec Warrior as “spirit leader, not mascot,” she said. Roush said SDSU will also strengthen ties with local indigenous groups while embracing and teaching positive elements about what is known about the Aztec Empire and its people. SDSU will rename its annual awards for outstanding faculty, staff and alumni in coordination with the appropriate university committees, to eliminate the use of the nicknames. An immediate change will dismiss the use of the nicknames “Monty” and “Zuma,” noting that the use of such nicknames in any context is inappropriate. ![]() Members will also be tasked with articulating and recommending ways to meaningfully include local Native American tribes in SDSU’s significant functions and annual ceremonial events, such as All-University Convocation and Commencement. ![]() The group is responsible for recommending additional cultural and co-curricular programming related to Aztec history and culture. The Aztec Culture Education Committee, formed during the 2016-2017 year, will reconvene and be formally institutionalized, with the addition of representatives who identify as Native American.The group will be staffed and supported through ongoing and one-time university funding. The creation of a governing body to be chaired by the SDSU president and charged with actively addressing issues related to SDSU’s Aztec identity and the ethical and fiduciary responsibility of carrying the Aztec name.“One consistent, overarching message was conveyed in a loud and clear voice: Respect, genuinely intended and executed, must be the foundation of our actions going forward,” Roush said at a special May 17 meeting of the University Senate, during which she shared the task force’s recommendations and her decisions. Surveys were sent to more than 200,000 constituents with nearly 13,000 responding, in which the majority were supportive of maintaining the Aztec identity. SDSU President Sally Roush announced that the university will retain the Aztec name and Aztec Warrior after carefully considering the 2018 Aztec Identity Task Force’s recommendations and the viewpoints of students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members, and also comments shared with her directly. Note: In addition to San Diego State University President Sally Roush’s full statement, you can also find information about the Aztec identity decisions, including statements and documents: ![]()
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