Responding to complaints of racism from Latino students, a task force at San Diego State University recommended toning down the image of the school's football mascot, Monty Montezuma. Rather than breathe fire, carry a spear, and loudly exhort fans, the cheerleader would have to dress and behave respectfully, lose the "Monty" nickname, and be modeled more closely after the real Aztec ruler.

But Tom Davies, a dissenting task force member and professor of Latin American history, said that if the school wanted a historically accurate Montezuma, he would have to be carted around on a litter and remain wordless during the football games, his subjects forbidden to even look at him. For the game to proceed, halftime would be devoted to a ritual human sacrifice.

†