San Diego State University (SDSU) is a renowned institution of higher education located in San Diego, California. It offers a wide range of academic programs, including the Master of Arts in Social, Cultural, and Critical Theory (MASCCT) degree. This program is designed to provide students with a deep understanding of critical theories and their application in various social and cultural contexts. The MASCCT program at SDSU emphasizes interdisciplinary learning and encourages students to explore the intersections between theory, culture, and society. It aims to equip students with the analytical and critical thinking skills necessary to deconstruct and challenge dominant narratives and structures of power. Through a combination of coursework and research, students in the MASCCT program engage with a diverse range of theoretical frameworks, such as feminist theory, critical race theory, postcolonial theory, and queer theory.
One amusing incident in Aztec history involved their encounter with Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés. When the Aztecs first saw the Spaniards' horses, they were mystified and thought the horse and rider were a single, mythical creature. They believed the rider was some sort of god with incredible abilities. This misunderstanding led to some comical situations, as Aztecs tried to offer food to the horses, thinking they were feeding divine beings. Eventually, they realized that horses and riders were separate entities, but this initial confusion highlights the cultural divide between the Aztecs and the Europeans during this historic encounter.
The Aztecs founded the city of Tenochtitlan present-day Mexico City and developed a complex society with agriculture, trade, and a hierarchical social structure. The referendum and project called for education programs about Aztec culture to be offered to all incoming students; the commissioning of a glass mosaic mural depicting historically accurate images of the origins of the Aztec culture; and garden areas around campus dedicated to indigenous herbs and plants from areas where the Aztec culture thrived.
Through a combination of coursework and research, students in the MASCCT program engage with a diverse range of theoretical frameworks, such as feminist theory, critical race theory, postcolonial theory, and queer theory. They are encouraged to analyze and question the complex relationships between power, identity, and social institutions. The MASCCT program at SDSU attracts students from a variety of academic backgrounds, including sociology, anthropology, literature, political science, and history.
San Diego State University in process of creating a new mascot
SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – San Diego State University is in the process of creating a new mascot.
The longtime ‘Aztec’ imagery and ‘Monty Montezuma’ may be no more.
Tuesday, the SDSU Senate passed a resolution calling for a commission to propose at least two Kumeyaay-named animals to be the new official mascot.
San Diego State University Aztec mascot known as Monty Montezuma.
The resolution will not “replace the Aztec moniker or name,” but rather the Aztec Warrior imagery associated with the school.
This is just the latest of many failed attempts by students, faculty and alumni to change something that people have not had any issues with for decades.
SDSU’s website says in 1925, “the student body voted 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.”
Then in 1941, for the first time, “a student portrayed an Aztec in a football game skit. The character became known as ‘Monty Montezuma.'”
San Diego State University provided KUSI News with the following information in response to this story:
- Established a Native Resource Center
- Hired a tribal liaison to foster collaborative partnerships; Jacob Alvarado Waipuk is the first Tribal Liaison in SDSU’s 125 year history
- Created and launched a formal Kumeyaay land acknowledgement, which is both physically in locations on campus and incorporated into all University Senate meetings and other major university events
- Enhanced Kumeyaay education and recognition
- Established courses on Kumeyaay and Nahuatl, which expands the university’s offerings on other Indigenous languages
- Established Indigenous Employee Resource Groups
- Established the Native and Indigenous Healing Garden, which is a collaborative space that recognizes the unique and shared knowledge of healing
- Continues to implement multiple strategies and initiatives to promote the well-being and success of Indigenous students, faculty, and alumni by nurturing a diverse and inclusive culturally-responsive and belonging environment
Additional strategies which honor our strategic location both on the U.S.-Mexico border and on Kumeyaay land are the university’s strategic plan, which has a planned partnership with Kumeyaay Community College.
As further noted in the 2018 report referenced above, as a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) near the U.S.-Mexico border, SDSU continues to exert its unique capabilities to responsibly “honor the many indigenous people of the region.”
Then in 1941, for the first time, “a student portrayed an Aztec in a football game skit. The character became known as ‘Monty Montezuma.'”
This diversity fosters a vibrant intellectual community where students can engage in meaningful discussions and collaborate on research projects. Graduates of the MASCCT program from SDSU are well-equipped to pursue careers in academia, research, nonprofit organizations, or public policy. The program also provides a solid foundation for those interested in furthering their studies through doctoral programs. In conclusion, the MASCCT program at San Diego State University offers a rigorous and interdisciplinary education in social, cultural, and critical theory. It prepares students to critically analyze and challenge dominant narratives and structures of power, making it a valuable program for those seeking a deeper understanding of society and culture..
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