The University of San Francisco (USF) in California has announced it is retiring its longtime mascot, “The Don,” which the school’s athletic teams have used since 1932. The decision followed several years of protests by some students, who say the figure symbolizes the region’s colonial past. At the start of the spring 2027 semester, a wolf will replace the current mascot. The university’s sports teams will keep the traditional name “Dons.”
The current mascot, also known as “Don Francisco,” depicted a man with a thin mustache and a green Spanish-style hat, resembling Zorro. The character referred to Francisco de Haro, the first mayor of Yerba Buena, the settlement that later grew into San Francisco. Its presence at the university’s sporting events began to stir controversy over the historical treatment of California’s Indigenous people during the colonial period.
In 2022, USF’s student government passed a resolution calling for the mascot’s removal, arguing that it symbolizes the exploitation and subjugation of the region’s Indigenous inhabitants. A petition supporting the change gathered more than 400 signatures. Students also called for a joint committee to choose a new character to represent the university.
USF President Salvador Aceves described the change as part of a refresh of the university’s image, also tied to Brent Blaylock’s taking over as athletic director.
“With new leadership at USF and Dons Athletics, we believe the time is right to refresh our image and adopt a new mascot, known for its intelligence, endurance and ability to work together in a pack,” Aceves said. He stressed that the university will continue to use the name University of San Francisco Dons.
According to the university administration, the choice of a wolf refers to the institution’s Jesuit heritage. It was inspired by the bronze sculptures on campus, “Los Lobos de Loyola,” which refer to the 15th-century family coat of arms of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
Editor: JŁ
