San Diego State University went off to the big city to do battlewith a representative of the rough and tumble, black and blue, big,bad boys of the Big Ten. Yes, SDSU, a school that for years hasproudly displayed, promoted and supported the heritage of an ancientcivilization — the Aztecs; a school that proudly displays the faceof Monty Montezuma, a fierce warrior, in center court of theirbasketball arena for the entire nation to see; a school whosestudents, athletic teams, coaches, literature, structures, dailynewspaper, etc., proudly display this same image; and it is also aschool whose administration is bent on destroying this image — ofremoving it from everything of importance to the school, the studentbody and virtually the entire alumni association.
This is the same administration that has refused to acknowledgethe opinions, wishes and guidance of the vast majority of the alumniand the student body and has acquiesced to the demands of a handfulof malcontents who, in a few years, will be gone from the universityand will probably never have anything further to do with the school.It is the same administration that has now presented us with acomical figure reported to be an ambassador, one who will supposedlyrepresent the university. I suspect that if Montezuma had used suchan ambassador in his dealings with Cortez and his army, moreSpaniards would have died of laughter than malaria.
Yes, it is ironic that our Aztecs, soon to be stripped of theirproud logo, faced a team representing a university that is proud todisplay its heritage of association with a group of Native Americans,the Fighting Illini; a team that proudly acknowledges its historicalassociation with these Native Americans and is proud to present toone and all its spiritual leader in the form of one such NativeAmerican — Chief Illiniwek. Yes, the same malcontents have been outto get the Chief, but the university, in its wisdom, in acknowledgingthe wishes of the alumni and the student body, has elected tocontinue using the Chief as its leader.
In addition, it is also ironic that the Aztecs had the opportunityof playing in an arena that is home to a National Hockey League team,one that proudly displays the figure of another proud, fierce, noblewarrior — a representative of yet another group of Mid-WesternNative Americans — the Blackhawks.
Perhaps it is time that members of the SDSU Administration wear alogo of their own: a chicken! President Weber: GET YOUR HEAD OUT OFTHE SAND!
Hmm, maybe an ostrich would be more appropriate.
–Martin L. Morris, M.D.University of Illinois class of 1955
Chief Illiniwek and Ambassador montezuma formsupport group
I was thrilled to read the new stories accompanying the recentdevelopment regarding Ambassador Montezuma of your university. Irecently completed a term as Chief Illiniwek at the University ofIllinois, and the similarities between the two are striking — bothblending aspects of the area’s native culture into a modern anduniversity setting as a symbol and ambassador — much more than amascot.
I am very proud of Alberto — I know that there is certainlyopposition from certain groups, but you are doing the right thing. Iexperienced a great deal of opposition and hostility from certaingroups, but it is important to keep it in the larger perspective.
Best of luck.
–John MadiganUniversity of Illinois “Chief Illiniwek XXXIII”
MEChA: AGENDA OF U.S. GOVERNMENT IS WHITEPOWER
“Either you are with us or against us” is what Bush tells us. Ourcivil rights are under attack by this fascist and Nazi-like Bushadministration. All people of color have been/are victims of racialprofiling at the hands of the border, police, military, Republicanand Democratic pigs. The post Sept. 11 disappearances of our MiddleEastern brothers and sisters are proof of that. As Chicanos/Mexicanosliving in occupied Mexico/Aztlan, we are treated like foreigners onour own land. Our civil rights are violated 24/7. Don’t believe me?Research Operation Gatekeeper and the 800 people who have beenmurdered under the rule of the “Republicrat” dictatorship. When wetry to educate ourselves by passing out “Know Your Rights” fliers, weare beaten, arrested and made political prisoners like Ben Prado.
The Jewish-owned media continue to blind the masses withpropaganda to keep them in fear. Because of that, foolish Americansare accepting B.S. like the Patriot Act which is turning the UnitedStates (if it is not already) into a military/police state and takingaway our privacy. The FBI and CIA tap the phones and break into thehomes of anyone who has a different viewpoint and assassinate thosewho pose a threat to their White Power and capitalistic agenda.
MEChA is completely against everything that Bush and his croniesstand for but we still deserve and demand that our people’s civilrights be respected!
–Ron Gochezchairman, MEChA de SDSU
ATHLETICS PROGRAM NOT TO BLAME FOR SDSU PARKINGWOES
Yes, there is a parking problem at SDSU and it is because oflaziness, not “SDSU athletics,” as stated in a recent letter(“Parking continues to be a problem,” March 4).
The last time I checked, the Alvarado Road parking lot had plentyof vacant spaces. Students who park there are capable of making it toclass on time everyday if they are willing to walk for a mere fiveminutes.
In addition, for those that find this alternative unacceptable,CSU San Marcos doesn’t have an athletics program. So if you have aproblem walking for a few minutes, please transfer to a college wherethe athletics will not be “responsible for the deterioration in thequality of work.”
Finally, athletics at San Diego State is an important traditionand a great source of revenue for the university, which shouldn’t beattacked just because of your laziness.
–John Hoadleyundeclared freshman
Letters Policy
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