“Monty” Montezuma will continue the university tradition ofrunning through the stands and twirling his flaming spear duringfootball games. At least for the time being.

Monty’s future as the San Diego State University mascot has beenin jeopardy the last two months after a group of students from theNative American Student Alliance asked the university to stop thehuman depiction of Native Americans.

University President Stephen Weber has prolonged the two-monthdebate until possibly May 1, when a 20-member task force will reportto him whether the mascot should be changed or hit the roadcompletely.

Last Thursday, Weber emerged from months of silence about theissue and told the nation his decision: the Aztec nickname will stay,but the mascot will be looked into.

“I am open to SDSU continuing to express its aspirations andvalues through a human symbol,” Weber said. “But we must do so in away that respects and accurately portrays the individual representedand his or her culture.

“It is not unreasonable to also expect that San Diego State’ssymbols and logos be appropriate.”

The task force will have five representatives each appointed bythe Associated Students, the University Senate, the AlumniAssociation and Weber.

For now, Weber said everything will stay the same. “Monty” willstill perform at scheduled sporting events and the Campus Bookstorewill still sell paraphernalia donning the red-faced mascot logo.

Weber has asked Academic Affairs, A.S. and the Alumni Associationto submit a proposal on ways the campus can educate students aboutthe Aztecs; whether it be through a series of lectures, artisticpresentations or discussions of the culture.

He said he is open to the idea of an annual conference of Aztecscholars to speak on campus and an Aztec museum or researchinstitute.

At the press conference last Thursday, members from MEChA,(Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan) held signs that read “SaveCulture, Lose Monty,” and “Slavery was a tradition.”

After Weber’s announcement, MEChA chairwoman Christina Quimirosaid she disapproved of his decision and said her group may plan totake legal action against Weber or take it to California StateUniversity Chancellor Charles Reed.

Reed told The Daily Aztec last month that although he has greatrespect for Native Americans, he thinks the issue should be figuredout on each campus.

“I used to work in a system that had as its mascot and nickname ofits team the Seminoles, and I saw a great amount of respect where theNative Americans came together with the university and it became awin-win situation. And I would sure hope that something like thatcould happen at San Diego State.”

So far, Reed has remained silent on the issue.

A message posted on KGTV Channel 10’s Web site rebuffed Quimiros’cry for legal interference: “I also find it amusing that MEChA wouldrather be part of the problem rather than part of the solution bysaying that the task force is not acceptable and thereby refusing toparticipate,” the message said. “Why? Here’s your chance to make achange. Here’s your compromise.”

Weber’s decision mirrors an issue raging through nationwideuniversities — the use of human mascots, particularly NativeAmerican cultures.

Schools such as Cornell, Marquette, St. John’s and Stanford havestopped using Native American imagery for their sport teams. But,more than 2,500 schools, including SDSU, still employ these images.

Weber said he made his decision by consulting with Aztec scholarson campus, reading Aztec-related literature and meeting with NativeAmerican leaders in the community. He also talked with MiguelLeon-Portilla, one of Mexico’s authorities on Aztec culture.

Leon-Portilla did not think keeping the Aztec nickname wasoffensive, but called the university’s depiction of Montezuma II, theruler of the Aztec empire in the 1500s, “risky.”

The issue was ignited in September when Rey Soto, A.S.representative for NASA, asked the A.S. Council to pass a resolutionretiring the nickname and mascot.

The 31-member council approved the resolution Sept. 27, but afterstudent protest, held a campuswide student vote Oct. 23-25. More than8,000 students turned out to the polls: 95.1 percent voted to keepthe Aztec, and 86.7 percent wanted to keep the mascot.

The Alumni Association also passed a resolution, asking Weber tokeep both the nickname and mascot. More than 90 percent of alumnisurveyed wanted to keep the nickname and more than 80 percent wantedto keep Montezuma.

Weber looked at resolutions passed by A.S., the Alumni Associationand the University Senate, and a student referendum, but said neitherdictated his decision.

Patricia Huckle, chair of the University Senate, said she washappy with Weber’s decision and that it was similar to the Senate’sresolution Nov. 7 that advised Weber to keep the Aztecs name but lookinto modifying “Monty.”

“The Senate position is more deliberative because it’s not oneither extreme,” she said.

Weber said the task force will begin meeting as soon as possible.