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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AZTEC WARRIOR TO BECOME OFFICIAL SDSU MASCOT
Students, Alumni Association, Athletic Foundation Members Vote Overwhelmingly in Favor of Concept

SAN DIEGO, Thursday, December 11, 2003 – San San Diego State University President Stephen L. Weber announced today that the university will adopt the Aztec Warrior as its official mascot, in accordance with the wishes of students, Alumni Association members and Aztec Athletic Foundation members who voted strongly in favor of the concept in separate referendums last week.

“The mandate is clear that the Aztec Warrior will officially represent SDSU at athletic events. We will proceed to implement this concept as soon as possible,” Weber said. “This concept has met all the criteria we’ve established for a new mascot. First, it represents our affiliation with the Aztec culture in a historically accurate and appropriate way. Second, it is consistent with the guidelines recommended by the University Senate and the Task Force on Aztec Identity. Third, it has the strong support of our students, alumni and athletic boosters, as the referendums show.”

Nearly 10,000 students voted, setting a new SDSU record for a student referendum and endorsing the proposed mascot by more than a 3:1 ratio. More than 4,700 Alumni Association and Aztec Athletic Foundation members voted in their referendum, with more than 88 percent of voters backing the mascot. The exact vote counts are below:

STUDENT REFERENDUM RESULTS
“Yes” Votes: 7,731 (78.3 percent)
“No” Votes: 2,142 (21.7 percent)
Total Votes: 9,873 (29.3 percent of current student body of 33,676)

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION/AAF REFERENDUM RESULTS
“Yes” Votes: 4,186 (88.4 percent)
“No” Votes: 551 (11.6 percent)
Total Votes: 4,737 (37.8 percent of 12,537 eligible members)

“I’d like to thank everyone who participated in this democratic process and shared their views on this matter,” Weber said. “This was a passionate issue for many members of our community. I am pleased that the debate, while intense at times, was conducted in a manner befitting a university dedicated to the ‘marketplace of ideas.’”

There is no set timeline at this point for the debut of the Aztec Warrior, although Weber said he hopes it will occur during the spring 2004 semester. The university has signed Carlos Gutierrez, who portrayed the university’s mascot from 1990 to 1998, to initially portray the new Aztec Warrior. But SDSU still must fabricate the clothing and gear he will wear. A rendering and description of the new Aztec Warrior is available at www.sdsu.edu/mascot.

SDSU has been without an official mascot since May 2001, when Weber retired the previous mascot, Monty Montezuma. That action was consistent with a recommendation of the university’s Task Force on Aztec Identity, which held the university’s mascot should be a culturally appropriate and historically accurate image from Aztec culture. Since that time, the university convened a new mascot committee, had conversations with student leaders, alumni leaders, athletics boosters and others, and received input from scholars of Aztec civilization such as anthropology professor Ross Hassig, formerly of the University of Oklahoma.

San Diego State University is the oldest and largest institution of higher education in the San Diego region. Founded in 1897, SDSU offers bachelor's degrees in 79 areas, master's degrees in 67 and doctorates in 14. SDSU's nearly 34,000 students participate in academic curricula distinguished by direct contact with faculty and an increasing international emphasis that prepares them for a global future. For more information log on to www.sdsu.edu.

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