About Us
The SDSU Center for University Heritage and Community Engagement engages in a wide variety of research, teaching, and engagement with the many communities the university serves. We have discovered hidden campus murals, produced a play on World War II letters written by San Diego State students, crafted over a dozen historical walking tours for Montezuma Mesa, curated multiple exhibits for the university during its 125-year anniversary celebration, written exhaustive books on the history of live popular music on campus and on 100 seasons of Aztec football, and so much more!
Our Mission
The SDSU Center for University Heritage and Community Engagement curates—through the collection, selection, and presentation of information—San Diego State’s qualities, traditions, and features of life that have been passed from one generation to another. The center specializes in advancing and promoting an understanding of SDSU histories in an inclusive manner that facilitates insight, innovation, and creativity.
Some Thoughts on the Term Heritage
Our newly created Center for University Heritage and Community Engagement curates—through the collection, selection, and presentation of information—San Diego State’s qualities, traditions, and features of life that have been passed from one generation to another. It specializes in advancing and promoting an understanding of SDSU histories in an inclusive manner that facilitates insight, innovation, and creativity. Heritage is not a word we take lightly, and our use of it deserves explanation.
We draw on definitions of heritage established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee to identify heritage sites. Simply put, UNESCO defines heritage as: “our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations.” While the word shares a root with the word inheritance, heritage should not be seen as static and singular, tied exclusively to privilege, or only about material things. Heritage continually changes and includes a wide variety of tangible and intangible phenomena that perpetually shape and are constantly shaped by our actions.
We acknowledge there are problematic uses of the term heritage and that the concept is alienating for some people due to its colonial origins and political appropriations. For example, certain conservative groups have embraced the word in the 2020s, pushing “Heritage Not Hate” bumper stickers to defend a political agenda that seeks to legitimize oppressive and offensive symbols, like the Confederate Flag. It is worth noting, however, that in the 1930s, it was liberals who championed the very same term by offering a utopian historical perspective embodied in heritage that could be used to defeat racist Nazi propaganda (see Ernst Bloch’s 1935 The Heritage of Our Times). Words, like all other symbols, are malleable; their meanings often change and can be employed to suit any number of agendas. Context is key.
In addition, we are careful to avoid using the concept of heritage in a manner that only focuses on the positive and ignores important negative associations and contexts. Our Center does not attempt to hide the San Diego State’s difficult histories—in fact, one of our books even has a chapter entitled “Lowlights: Dark Days at Montezuma Mesa”—and it goes to great lengths to contextualize each historical narrative that is presented. What results is a saturation of stories that as a group give shape to our institutional legacies.
Ultimately, we chose to retain the term heritage as inspired by UNESCO but endeavor to proceed respectfully and carefully. Even though the word heritage can be problematic, this is not a reason for abandoning the term, which is as dynamic and important for humanity as the concepts of history, culture, and identity.
Gift endows chair to promote SDSU Heritage and Community Engagement
By Tobin Vaughn
SDSU News
December 10, 2024
Remembering the Past and Preserving the Future
By Tobin Vaughn
SDSU Magazine
Spring 2025 Issue, Page 34
Ways to Give
Our history is more than the past; it is the living foundation of our communities. Please join us in supporting SDSU’s cultural and historical legacies. Your gift protects our history, funds cultural preservation, and ensures that these stories inspire future generations.
Stay Connected
Email: [email protected]
