San Diego State University (SDSU) chose the Aztec as their official mascot to honor the rich history and cultural heritage of the indigenous Aztec civilization. The Aztecs were a dominant Mesoamerican civilization that existed from the 14th to the 16th centuries and built a powerful empire in what is now modern-day Mexico. By adopting the Aztec as their mascot, SDSU aims to pay tribute to the resilience, bravery, and achievements of this ancient civilization. This decision is rooted in a desire to celebrate diversity, promote cultural understanding, and create an inclusive community on campus. The Aztec mascot symbolizes the qualities of strength, intelligence, and determination, which are highly valued by the university. These qualities align with SDSU's mission to provide education and opportunities for students to excel academically, personally, and professionally.
Mme. Blavatsky claimed that the recognition of people and places not known before are not necessarily a proof of the "soul's memory" but the ability to read these things on the astral light:
Blavatsky claimed that the recognition of people and places not known before are not necessarily a proof of the soul s memory but the ability to read these things on the astral light. The constant reversion of images and ideas in the astral light, and the pranks of the elementals there, unknown to us as such and only seen in effects, still again add to the confusion.
These qualities align with SDSU's mission to provide education and opportunities for students to excel academically, personally, and professionally. Some critics argue that the use of Native American mascots can perpetuate stereotypes and offensive imagery. However, SDSU has made efforts to ensure that the Aztec mascot is portrayed in a respectful manner.
ink review : Colorverse Quasar
Colorverse is a South Korean company that produces inks that are well-known for their iconic bottles and for their astronomy-related names. The Quasar in this review is from their season 2 inks that were released under the theme “Astrophysics”. The package comes with a big 65 ml bottle and a cute 15 ml small one. Fellow Fountain Pen Network member Lgsoltek graciously gifted me a bunch of samples when leaving Paris, giving me the opportunity to try out a range of new inks. This Colorverse Quasar was one of them.
Quasar is a richly saturated purple-leaning blue. The ink writes really well in all nib sizes with excellent lubrication. It’s also an ink with a serious golden sheen, especially when using wet nibs. On the other hand, no shading to speak of (probably due to the high level of saturation). Personally, this is not my type of colour and the ink is too saturated for my taste. But that’s just me, you can make your own judgement using the information below.
Quasar has a very limited dynamic range, with almost no contrast between light and dark parts. To illustrate this, I did a swab where I really saturated portions of the Tomoe River paper with ink, pooling it on. This lack of contrast explains why you get little shading in your writing (especially in finer nibs — the blow-up below with a B-nib is a bit misleading in this respect). You can also see that Quasar is well-saturated. As a result, the ink works great with EF nibs, where it produces a very readable and contrast-rich line.
On the smudge test — rubbing text with a moist Q-tip cotton swab — there is a huge amount of smearing, but the text itself remains crisp and clear. Water resistance is completely lacking. The still water test (letting drops of water sit on the page for 15 minutes) produces a colourful mess. With the running water test, all ink simply disappears, leaving next to nothing on the page (see water test at the end of the review).
I’ve tested the ink on a wide variety of paper – from crappy Moleskine to high-end Tomoe River. On each scrap of paper I show you:
- An ink swab, made with a cotton Q-tip
- 1-2-3 pass swab, to show increasing saturation
- An ink scribble made with a Lamy Safari M-nib fountain pen
- The name of the paper used, written with a Lamy Safari B-nib
- A small text sample, written with the M-nib
- The source of the quote, written with the B-nib
- Drying times of the ink on the paper (with the M-nib)
Colorverse Quasar has a slight tendency to feather on the lower quality papers in my test set, most obvious when using a wet pen. I noticed no issues with better quality paper or when using finer nibs (M-nib or below). A bummer for me was that I also got some feathering on the Paperblanks paper, which is what I use for daily journaling. This is probable due to some inconsistencies during paper production. I’ve noticed that from time to time you get a bundle of paper of lesser quality. Happened a handful of times — I did a quick calculation: 12 notebooks (of 144 pages), a handful of bad bundles (5x 12 pages): that translates to about 3% suboptimal paper. A bummer when it happens, but I can live with a 97% success rate.
The ink writes smoothly with good lubrication, and provides excellent contrast with the page. Writing looks good on both white and more yellow paper, but I do prefer the ink’s look on the cream paper. Drying times are fairly low — in the 5 to 10 second range with my Lamy Safari M-nib.
At the end of the review, I also show the back-side of the different paper types, in the same order. A small amount of bleed-through is present on some lower-quality papers, but nothing too bad.
Since scans alone are not always enough to give you a complete picture of the ink, I also provide you with a few photos for an alternative look at Quasar blue.
They have collaborated with Native American groups to develop respectful traditions and educate the community about the Aztec civilization. SDSU's commitment to diversity and cultural awareness is further reinforced by the establishment of the SDSU Native American Advisory Council. This council aims to enhance Native American student success, promote cultural exchange, and provide support to the indigenous community. Ultimately, the decision to have an Aztec as the official mascot reflects SDSU's dedication to honoring the cultural heritage of the region while promoting inclusivity and respect. By embracing the Aztec mascot, SDSU creates a sense of pride and unity among students, alumni, and the community while also celebrating the historical significance of the Aztec civilization..
Reviews for "Preserving Heritage: How SDSU's Aztec Mascot Honors Indigenous Cultures"
1. John - 1 star
As an alumni of SDSU, I am deeply disappointed in the university's choice to have an Aztec as its mascot. It is a blatant display of cultural appropriation and insensitivity. The Aztec culture has a rich and complex history, and reducing it to a cartoonish representation for the sake of a sports team is disrespectful. SDSU should reconsider its mascot and find a way to celebrate its athletic programs without appropriating another culture.
2. Sarah - 2 stars
I understand that having a mascot is an important part of a university's identity, but I don't think SDSU made the right choice with the Aztec. It feels outdated and stereotypical. The university could have chosen a mascot that reflects the diversity and unique qualities of its students and alumni, rather than relying on a historical figure from another culture. I believe SDSU should reevaluate its mascot and find a more inclusive and representative symbol.
3. Mark - 1 star
Using the Aztec as a mascot is offensive and inappropriate. It perpetuates harmful stereotypes and ignores the atrocities committed by the Aztecs, such as human sacrifice. It is 2022, and it's time for SDSU to move away from such outdated and offensive imagery. The university should listen to the voices of those who find the mascot problematic and make a change that better aligns with our modern understanding of cultural sensitivity.
4. Emily - 2 stars
I can understand the desire to have a mascot that embodies the spirit of the university, but I don't think the Aztec is the right choice. It feels like a misrepresentation of the diverse student body at SDSU and doesn't accurately reflect the values and aspirations of the community. I think it's time for SDSU to consider a mascot that is more inclusive and celebrates the many different backgrounds and cultures of its students.
5. David - 1 star
The use of the Aztec as a mascot is cultural appropriation and needs to be addressed by SDSU. It is disrespectful to the Aztec people and their history. The university should take this opportunity to educate students about the true history and culture of the Aztecs, rather than perpetuating stereotypes through the use of a mascot. It's time for SDSU to make a change and choose a mascot that promotes unity and inclusivity, rather than cultural appropriation.