University of San Francisco retires longtime mascot after complaints

The University of San Francisco announced plans to retire its longtime Don Francisco mascot following community complaints regarding Spanish colonialism. The private Jesuit school will officially phase out the stylized Spanish nobleman character, which features a mask and cape, at the start of the spring 2027 semester. School officials said that the sports teams will continue to use the Dons nickname despite the costume retirement.

The student senate voted back in 2022 to eliminate the mascot because the character symbolized the history of colonization on indigenous Ohlone land occupied by the university. The original name was chosen as a tribute to Don Francisco de Haro, who served as the first mayor of the settlement that eventually became San Francisco. Student leaders pushed for the change through petitions signed by hundreds of students and subsequent campus advocacy over the past several years.

University President Salvador Aceves addressed the transition in a community letter explaining the decision. Aceves said that the school wanted to revitalize its image and embrace a new mascot known for intelligence, endurance, and cooperative pack behavior. The institution will introduce a wolf mascot next spring to replace the nobleman character entirely.

Administrators chose the wolf as a direct nod to the institution's Jesuit roots. The animal figures prominently in traditional stories about St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits. A large bronze sculpture depicting wolves currently stands at the center of the campus to reflect this heritage.

The upcoming transition marks the end of an era for the mascot that has represented the university for decades. The school will complete the rollout of the new wolf branding ahead of athletic events scheduled for the spring term.