Woke California University Cancels Its Mascot of Nearly a Century Over 'Colonial Ties'
The University of San Francisco announced on Friday that it will replace its mascot, “Don,” next semester following complaints that it represents a history of colonialism in California.
The mascot — a masked man with a pencil mustache who wears a green Spanish hat — is scheduled to be replaced at the start of the spring 2027 semester after more than 90 years in action, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
The school said the replacement will be a wolf and that “Dons” will still serve as its nickname.
The mascot was named “Don” to honor Don Francisco de Haro, who served as the first mayor of Yerba Buena before it became San Francisco.
University of San Francisco President Salvador Aceves said, “With new leadership at USF and in Dons Athletics, we believe the time is right to revitalize our image and embrace a new mascot, one that is known for its intelligence, endurance and ability to work cooperatively in its pack.”
“At the same time, we will proudly remain the University of San Francisco Dons,” he noted.
Aceves was named to the post back in March, just three months before former Oregon State official Brent Blaylock became the school’s new athletic director.
The mascot change comes several years after the USF student government passed a resolution in 2022 calling on the university to ditch the symbol because it was a reminder of Spanish colonization over California’s indigenous population.
The petition, which was signed by over 400 students, even demanded a task force to tackle the issue and come up with a new mascot by the 2024-25 academic year.
University of San Francisco alumna Ariana Anayat led the charge back in 2022 as student government vice president and expressed pride at the outcome.
“I feel elated to see our work finally come to fruition, and I feel grateful to be a USF alum,” she proclaimed.
“At a time when higher education is facing increasing hostility from the federal government, I’m proud to see USF uphold its values and empower students to shape their communities for the better,” Anayat added.
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Others disagreed with the decision on social media and cited political correctness as the driving factor.
“I cannot stand this revision of the past, especially in sports logos — the Indians, Redskins and Bullets come to mind, but I know that there are many others,” one alumnus commented on Facebook.
Additionally, the school said it plans to start phasing out references to Don Francisco from the entire university.
Administration officials are planning to speak with students and staff to get their input about new costume designs over the next several months, the New York Post reported.
The outlet also accused university leadership of caving by “pulling the pin on a 92-year-old tradition.”
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