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CultureQuiet 11d · day 11

University of San Francisco retires 'The Don' mascot after student campaign

The 92-year-old mascot will be replaced by a wolf starting spring 2027, while teams keep the 'Dons' nickname.

newest coverage 10d agosummary written 10d ago5 pieces Newswires

What to know

  • USF will retire its 92-year-old 'The Don' mascot for a wolf starting spring 2027, but keep the 'Dons' team nickname.
  • The change follows a 2022 student government resolution and a petition with more than 400 signatures calling the mascot a symbol of colonial exploitation of Indigenous people.
  • Reaction is split: the student activist who led the original campaign called the outcome 'elated,' while alumni online criticized the decision, and conservative outlets framed it as the university 'caving' to wokeness.
  • The university says the new wolf emblem preserves a tie to USF's Jesuit heritage via the campus 'Los Lobos de Loyola' statues.

“At the same time, we will proudly remain the University of San Francisco Dons.”

Salvador Aceves, USF President · NY Post ↗ · Oct 31

Salvador Aceves USF PresidentBrent Blaylock Newly appointed USF athletic directorAriana Anayat Former USF student government vice president

University of San Francisco retires 'The Don' mascot after student campaign
breitbart.com

How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articles

Peak 3 pieces in 3h at Nov 2, 10 AM; 5 pieces over 11 days (5 articles) Nov 1, 7 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Nov 1, 10 PM — quietNov 2, 1 AM — quietNov 2, 4 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Nov 2, 7 AM — quietNov 2, 10 AM — 3 pieces · 3 articles — Newswires 3Nov 2, 1 PM — quietNov 2, 4 PM — quietNov 2, 7 PM — quietNov 2, 10 PM — quietNov 3, 1 AM — quietNov 3, 4 AM — quietNov 3, 7 AM — quietNov 3, 10 AM — quietNov 3, 1 PM — quietNov 3, 4 PM — quietNov 3, 7 PM — quietNov 3, 10 PM — quietNov 4, 1 AM — quietNov 4, 4 AM — quietNov 4, 7 AM — quietNov 4, 10 AM — quietNov 4, 1 PM — quietNov 4, 4 PM — quietNov 4, 7 PM — quietNov 4, 10 PM — quietNov 5, 1 AM — quietNov 5, 4 AM — quietNov 5, 7 AM — quietNov 5, 10 AM — quietNov 5, 1 PM — quietNov 5, 4 PM — quietNov 5, 7 PM — quietNov 5, 10 PM — quietNov 6, 1 AM — quietNov 6, 4 AM — quietNov 6, 7 AM — quietNov 6, 10 AM — quietNov 6, 1 PM — quietNov 6, 4 PM — quietNov 6, 7 PM — quietNov 6, 10 PM — quietNov 7, 1 AM — quietNov 7, 4 AM — quietNov 7, 7 AM — quietNov 7, 10 AM — quietNov 7, 1 PM — quietNov 7, 4 PM — quietNov 7, 7 PM — quietNov 7, 10 PM — quietNov 8, 1 AM — quietNov 8, 4 AM — quietNov 8, 7 AM — quietNov 8, 10 AM — quietNov 8, 1 PM — quietNov 8, 4 PM — quietNov 8, 7 PM — quietNov 8, 10 PM — quietNov 9, 1 AM — quietNov 9, 4 AM — quietNov 9, 7 AM — quietNov 9, 10 AM — quietNov 9, 1 PM — quietNov 9, 4 PM — quietNov 9, 7 PM — quietNov 9, 10 PM — quietNov 10, 1 AM — quietNov 10, 4 AM — quietNov 10, 7 AM — quietNov 10, 10 AM — quietNov 10, 1 PM — quietNov 10, 4 PM — quietNov 10, 7 PM — quietNov 10, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 1 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 1 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietToday, 1 AM — quietToday, 4 AM — quietToday, 7 AM — quietToday, 10 AM — quietToday, 1 PM — quietToday, 4 PM — quietToday, 7 PM — quietToday, 10 PM — quiet 1
Nov 2Nov 3Nov 4Nov 5Nov 6Nov 7Nov 8Nov 9Nov 10yesterdaynow · 11:10 PM ET
  1. 1

    Conservative outlets amplify story as 'woke' capitulation

    Breitbart and American Greatness republished and amplified the story under headlines framing USF as caving to wokeness.

    “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.”
    — Salvador Aceves, USF President · source
  2. background

    NY Post frames decision as capitulation to 'woke' students — NY Post reported the change, noting mixed reactions from alumni who accused the administration of unnecessarily rewriting campus sports history, while the student activist who led the campaign said she was 'elated'.

  3. background

    USF announces mascot will be retired for a wolf — The university announced Friday that 'The Don' will officially step aside at the start of the spring 2027 semester, replaced by a wolf emblem tied to the school's Jesuit heritage, while teams keep the 'Dons' nickname.

  4. background

    USF student government votes to remove 'The Don' mascot — Student government passed a resolution demanding removal of the mascot, arguing it symbolized exploitation and subjugation of California's Indigenous people; a petition gathered more than 400 signatures.

Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet

  1. 3 outlets Don with It: Woke California College Caves and Axes Mascot After 90+ Years

    first by Breitbart, 10d ago · also New York Post, NY Post

    1 more headline

and 1 smaller piece