KPBS Midday Edition

Is It Time To Retire SDSU’s Aztec Mascot?

By Maureen Cavanaugh / KPBS Midday Edition Co-Host, Marissa Cabrera / News Producer, KPBS Midday Edition

Published April 19, 2017 at 8:15 AM PDT

This story was published more than 7 years ago.

San Diego State mascot the Aztec Warrior comes onto the field before an NCAA college football game against Boise State Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017.

Is It Time To Retire SDSU’s Aztec Mascot?

Is It Time To Retire SDSU’s Aztec Mascot? GUEST: Ozzie Monge, lecturer, American Indian Studies Department, San Diego State University

San Diego State University's "Aztec Warrior" mascot has gone through some big changes over the years.

Now, there's a push for it to disappear entirely.

The Associated Students University Council is scheduled to vote Wednesday on a non-binding resolution to phase out the Aztec name and logo and adopt a new non-human mascot.

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The latest effort to get rid of the Aztec mascot is led by the school’s Native American Student Alliance and campus lecturer Ozzie Monge. The group believes the Aztec mascot perpetuates racism and stereotypes of Native Americans.

But opponents of the resolution believe the Aztec mascot is paying tribute to the ancient Aztec culture and getting rid of it would upset Aztec descendants.

Monge discussed the history behind the controversial mascot, Wednesday on Midday Edition.

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Maureen Cavanaugh

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Maureen Cavanaugh has been a familiar voice for KPBS listeners for more than 15 years, serving in a variety of capacities including announcer, host, and producer. As host of KPBS Midday Edition, Maureen has interviewed a wide range of notables, such as comedienne Sandra Bernhardt, actor John Lequizamo, author Chuck Palahniuk, composer Marvin Hamlisch, artist Robert Irwin, and designer Zandra Rhodes. But of all the interviews Maureen has conducted, her most special was with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. Before joining KPBS in 1997, she worked as a news anchor for KSDO and KOGO News Radio in San Diego. While working for commercial radio stations in San Diego and in Salt Lake City, Utah, Maureen reported on both hard news and lifestyle features. Maureen has received three "Golden Mike" awards from the Radio and TV News Association of Southern California for economic reporting and breaking news. She has also received a "Best of Show" and “Best Radio Newscast” awards from the San Diego Press Club and the "Flo" Award from Public Radio Program Directors Association for Best Public Radio Announcer in a large market. Maureen is a native of Queens, New York, but after more than 20 years in San Diego she feels she qualifies as a real Southern Californian.

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Marissa Cabrera

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Marissa Cabrera worked as a producer for KPBS Midday Edition and had previously served as a Newscast Producer for KPBS' Morning Edition. Before joining KPBS she reported on Vatican affairs, social, and cultural issues in Rome, Italy. She also contributed to a documentary on sex abuse in the Catholic Church. Marissa has worked as a multimedia journalist at various news stations in San Diego and Monterey as well as Columbia, Missouri. Marissa graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism.

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