The "Curse of the Swarats" is a term used to describe a series of mysterious and unfortunate events that are said to have occurred in the Swarats region. The Swarats is an isolated and remote area, known for its rugged terrain and harsh weather conditions. According to local legends, the curse is believed to have been placed on the Swarats by a vengeful witch centuries ago. It is said that the witch was angered by the villagers' refusal to adhere to her demands and decided to cast a curse upon the land, bringing misfortune and hardship to its inhabitants. Throughout history, there have been countless accounts of strange occurrences and misfortunes happening in the Swarats region. These include natural disasters such as floods, avalanches, and severe storms that have caused significant damage to the villages and claimed many lives.
Aztec Warrior Foundation fights to keep SDSU’s Aztec Warrior mascot
SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – San Diego State University announced the next step in developing its new Aztec iconography in June but the Aztec Warrior Foundation says it will continue its efforts to save the SDSU Aztec Warrior mascot.
SDSU retired the use of pre-2018 references to the Aztec Warrior as a mascot and in June President de la Torre’s announced the university is also now retiring the Aztec spirit leader, and are retiring warrior-related imagery related to the human representation.
The university said in the letter that they have, “plans to engage faculty, staff, students, alumni representatives and members of our Native and Indigenous communities over a year-long process, work is now underway to develop recommendations for new “iconography,” or images — such as artwork, symbols and other visual elements — that will amplify and align with our university’s Aztec identity.”
The Aztec Warrior Foundation said removing human representation goes against President de la Torre’s original support for Interim President Sally Roush’s decision to keep the Aztec Warrior and the 2018 Aztec Identity Task Force Report.
“Her decision to reverse course on the open and transparent process established under her predecessors left the Aztec Warrior Foundation no option except to reorganize,” stated AWF member, Patrick Batten. “We are prepared to fight to restore the Aztec Warrior as an ambassador and spirit leader for San Diego State University that appropriately honors the rich culture and heritage of the Aztecs.”
Former Aztec Warrior mascot, Carlos Gutierrez, joined Good Morning San Diego to discuss the new efforts to keep the human representation of Aztecs as part of SDSU iconography.
SDSU student council votes to keep Aztec warrior mascot
SAN DIEGO (KGTV) -- It will stay the San Diego State University "Aztecs," for the time being.
The university's Associated Student Council rejected a resolution Wednesday that would have favored phasing out the Aztec mascot. The council voted 14-12, with one abstention, to reject the call for a new mascot.
Had the resolution passed, it would have then gone to school officials as a recommendation, which would be followed by a solicitation of input.
Students at the university have criticized the mascot in the past because some find it offensive and call it cultural appropriation.
Students marched on campus earlier this week and used the hashtag #NotMyMascot to unite their efforts.
Thursday's vote was not the first effort to throw out the Aztec mascot. It's been tried before without success.
SDSU issued the following statement about the vote by Associated Students regarding the removal of the Aztec mascot and phasing out the use of the Aztec identity:
San Diego State University has a long and successful tradition of shared governance. As such, when a policy issue arises, the university engages in a broader discussion of the issue through the appropriate and responsible democratically-elected body (e.g., Associated Students, University Senate, etc.).
Associated Students' University Council recently engaged in their resolution process and voted against the proposed resolution regarding SDSU’s Aztec identity. We appreciate the thoughtful consideration our student leaders have given the issue.
A similar resolution has also been proposed to the University Senate and is expected to go through its own policy discussion process in the fall. It is important to SDSU that all viewpoints regarding the university’s Aztec identity are given the opportunity to be respectfully heard and carefully considered.
Social media reaction to the possible change has been strong among students and alumni.
10News anchor Jason Martinez has asked for input on Twitter and Facebook.
What do you think about the proposed change? Let us know on Jason's Facebook page.
Sandy Coronilla is a KGTV digital producer. Follow her @10NewsSandy
Copyright 2017 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
No More Aztec Warrior? SDSU University Senate Votes to Retire Mascot
A forceful presence at any San Diego State football and basketball games, the human depiction of the Aztec Warrior may come to an end soon.
The University Senate, consisted of faculty, staff, administrators and one coach, on Tuesday voted 52-15 for a non-binding resolution to retire the human depiction of the school’s mascot and to explore the issue associated with the mascot. The Aztec has been the school’s mascot since 1924.
In April, the SDSU’s Associated Students council rejected a similar resolution to phase out the Aztec logo and mascot. The resolution was introduced by the school’s Native American Student Alliance.
Prior to the Aztec Warrior, Monty Montezuma was the school’s mascot but was retired in 2003 because its depiction was considered racist. While the current mascot is more historically correct, the controversy over having non-Native Americans depicting the character persists.
In recent years, many schools and teams have dropped Native American mascots because their depictions were considered insensitive and racist. In 1994, Marquette changed its team mascot from the Warriors to the Golden Eagles. Miami (Ohio) changed its athletic teams’ name from the Redskins to the Chieftains in 1996.
The controversy is not limited to college sports. Both the Washington Redskins and Cleveland Indians have been criticized for their continued use of Native American mascots that are seen as culturally insensitive.
These include natural disasters such as floods, avalanches, and severe storms that have caused significant damage to the villages and claimed many lives. In addition to natural disasters, the curse is also blamed for the constant struggles and poverty faced by the people living in the Swarats. It is believed that the curse brings bad luck and hinders any progress or prosperity for the inhabitants.
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The resolution now moves to interim university President Sally Roush for consideration. Roush can approve, reject or table to resolution for her successor to consider. In a statement released Wednesday, SDSU said it committed to the shared governance process, “of which the University Senate is a part.”
“There can be no question that all viewpoints regarding SDSU’s Aztec identity have a right to be respectfully heard and carefully considered,” the statement read. “This resolution provides an opportunity for dialogue to continue among all stakeholders in the SDSU community — including faculty, students, staff, and alumni.”
Some SDSU alumni have already balked at changing the school’s mascot.
“Why does this keep coming up? The Aztec is portrayed as a proud warrior. There is nothing politically incorrect with this representation,” Teresita Wilborn commented on Facebook.
“Until this moment I was proud of being an Aztec. The PC senate just proved how spineless they are,” Catherine Janofsky posted on Facebook.
“Unlike monikers like ‘Wildcats’ or ‘Bears’ there is only one school that comes to mind when you hear ‘Aztecs.’ This is such a strong and apropos name considering our proximity to Mexico and the long history of the association with San Diego State,” Chris Rogers said on Facebook.
Senate Chair Marcie Bober-Michel, a professor in the School of Journalism and Media Studies told the Daily Aztec, the school’s student newspaper, she does not expect the resolution to be approved by Roush, but it is a start to a meaningful discussion on the issue.
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Furthermore, there have been reports of paranormal activities and sightings of supernatural beings in the Swarats. Local folklore tells stories of ghostly apparitions, mysterious lights, and eerie sounds echoing through the woods, adding to the fearful reputation of the area. Despite efforts to understand and overcome the curse, it continues to haunt the Swarats region. Some believe that the only way to break the curse is to appease the witch through rituals and offerings, while others suggest that it is simply a product of the region's harsh environment and geological conditions. Regardless of the origins or explanations behind the curse, the "Curse of the Swarats" remains a fascinating and unsettling topic, capturing the imagination of those who hear the tales. It serves as a cautionary reminder of the power of beliefs and the enduring mysteries of the world we live in..
Reviews for "The Swarats Curse: A Dark Secret of the Past"
1. Hannah - 2/5
I was really disappointed with "Curse of the Swarats". The storyline was confusing and lacked depth, the characters were one-dimensional, and the pacing was all over the place. The plot seemed to jump from one scene to another without any coherence, and I found it difficult to connect with the story on any level. Overall, it just didn't live up to my expectations.
2. Tom - 1/5
I really struggled to get through "Curse of the Swarats". The writing was uninspiring, and I found myself constantly bored with the story. The characters felt flat and uninteresting, and I couldn't bring myself to care about what happened to them. The ending was also disappointing, as it failed to tie up any loose ends and felt rushed. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone.
3. Emily - 2/5
"Curse of the Swarats" left me feeling underwhelmed. The premise seemed promising, but the execution fell flat. The pacing was slow, and I kept waiting for something exciting to happen, but it never did. Additionally, the dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to immerse myself in the story. Overall, I found the book to be lackluster and struggled to find any enjoyment in it.
4. Mark - 2/5
I had high hopes for "Curse of the Swarats" but was ultimately let down. The plot felt disjointed and convoluted, with twists and turns that didn't make much sense. The characters lacked development, and their actions often felt out of character or forced. I was left feeling confused and unsatisfied with the overall reading experience. Unfortunately, this book didn't live up to its potential for me.