Dec. 12, 2003

By Lisa Petrillo
San Diego Union-Tribune

SAN DIEGO - A new mascot was born yesterday at San Diego State University.

Eighty-three percent of students and alumni have elected a historically accurate, loincloth-wearing Aztec Warrior mascot to cheer on their Aztec athletes.

"We have a clear mandate to move forward," said university President Stephen Weber, who plans to commission the warrior's costume immediately and get him off the drawing board and onto the basketball court by spring, shaking his spear, gold leg and arm bracelets and a giant headdress of caracara feathers.

Weber acknowledged that the vote will not bring an end to the school's long and racially charged mascot controversy.

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