USF plans Don-to-wolf mascot switch

The University of San Francisco will retire its “Don” mascot at the start of the spring 2027 semester and replace it with a wolf, while keeping the Dons name for its athletic teams. The costumed character, which has represented the school since 1932 and was named for San Francisco’s first mayor, drew criticism from student leaders who said its Spanish colonial imagery represented the exploitation and subjugation of Indigenous people. A student resolution in 2022 and a petition with more than 400 signatures called for the mascot’s removal. University President Salvador Aceves said the wolf reflects Jesuit traditions and qualities such as intelligence, endurance and cooperation. A former student leader who helped organize the campaign welcomed the decision, while some alumni have criticized it.