Student Vote Favors San Diego State Aztec Nickname, Mascot

Students at San Diego State have voted overwhelmingly in favor of keeping their Aztecs nickname and retaining mascot Monty Montezuma, officials announced Thursday.

Of 8,050 students voting Monday through Wednesday--a turnout of 26.2%--the tally was 95% to 4% in favor of the nickname and 87% to 10% in favor of keeping the mascot.

Both have been criticized as racist and demeaning by the Native American Student Alliance and the campus student council. The University Senate is scheduled to discuss the controversy Nov. 7.

The decision on whether to retain Monty and the Aztecs name and logo, which has attracted considerable interest off campus, rests with university President Stephen Weber.