San Diego State University
For many years Cowles Mountain was locally known as "S" Mountain. In 1931, 500 students from San Diego State University (SDSU) painted a 400-foot-tall (120 m) letter "S" on the side of the mountain, after which it took on its popular name. In April 1942, during World War II, the local military ordered the S covered up for the sake of national security. After the war the painting tradition was resurrected. In the 1970s, the annual repainting tradition was discarded due to complaints from environmentalists but enjoyed a brief resurgence in the late 1980s.(see discussion page)
In 1991 the "S" was the basis of a prank by Seniors from nearby Patrick Henry High School. Overnight, the "S" was closed into a "9" and a crude "1" was added next to it. SDSU students eventually restored the "S" one last time.
The mountain, except for marked trails, is now a protected area, and the "S" has not been repainted for nearly two decades.
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