University of San Francisco to retire its “Don” mascot after nearly a century
By Mantle News
Coverage spectrum
Covered by 3 outlets, all right-leaning.
3 articles in total. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias
New York Post, Breitbart and The Western Journal report that the University of San Francisco will retire its costumed mascot “The Don” at the start of the spring 2027 semester. According to the outlets, the figure has appeared since 1932 and honors Don Francisco de Haro, the first mayor of Yerba Buena. The university will introduce a wolf, while its athletic teams keep the “Dons” nickname. The outlets say the change follows student objections that the figure reflects colonial history, including a 2022 student government resolution seeking its removal. The New York Post reports that a student petition supporting the change gathered more than 400 signatures.
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The University of San Francisco announced that its mascot “The Don” will step aside at the start of the spring 2027 semester.
One side only: the rightReported byRight1Far Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
- Right
- New York Post
- Far Right
- Breitbart News, The Western Journal
The university will introduce a wolf as a new mascot, while its athletic teams keep the “Dons” nickname.
One side only: the rightReported byRight1Far Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
- Right
- New York Post
- Far Right
- Breitbart News
The Don figure has appeared since 1932 and honors Don Francisco de Haro, the first mayor of Yerba Buena.
One side only: the rightReported byRight1Far Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
- Right
- New York Post
- Far Right
- Breitbart News
Students objected that the figure reflects colonial history, and a 2022 student government resolution sought its removal.
One side only: the rightReported byRight1Far Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
- Right
- New York Post
- Far Right
- Breitbart News, The Western Journal
A student petition supporting the change had roughly 400 signatures, according to reports.
One side only: the rightReported byRight1Far Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
- Right
- New York Post
- Far Right
- Breitbart News
How each side tells it
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All three outlets report that the University of San Francisco will retire its Don mascot at the start of spring 2027 and introduce a wolf while keeping the Dons nickname. Their headlines frame the change as a response to student pressure over colonial history, with Breitbart using mocking wording.
the left
No coverage yet
No left-leaning outlet that Mantle follows has covered this story yet. That absence is part of the picture.
the center
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No center outlet that Mantle follows has covered this story yet. That absence is part of the picture.
the right
3 outlets
Headlines frame the change as a university yielding to student pressure over colonial history; the Breitbart headline goes further, using a pun and “woke” to mock it.
California college Loaded verb“caves”“Caves” implies a reluctant surrender rather than a decision.More neutral: agrees to changeDisagree with this highlight? to Loaded modifier“woke students”The label “woke” pre-judges the students who objected before their objections are assessed.More neutral: studentsDisagree with this highlight? by canceling mascot after 90 years
New York PostRightAll right-leaning headlines
The words they chose
Language to notice
Words that carry a judgement beyond the facts. Tap a highlighted word anywhere on the page to see why.
Left
Has not covered this story.
Center
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Right6
cavesWokewoke studentsupsetting
In the outlets’ own words
Loaded verb
cavesMore neutral: agrees to change
“Caves” implies a reluctant surrender rather than a decision.
California college caves to woke students by canceling mascot after 90 years
Used byNew York Post (Right)Breitbart News (Far Right)
Loaded modifier
WokeMore neutral: University of San Francisco
The label “woke” pre-judges the university and the students behind the change.
Don with It: Woke California College Caves and Axes Mascot After 90+ Years
Used byBreitbart News (Far Right)The Western Journal (Far Right)
Loaded modifier
woke studentsMore neutral: students
The label “woke” pre-judges the students who objected before their objections are assessed.
California college caves to woke students by canceling mascot after 90 years
Used byNew York Post (Right)
Loaded modifier
upsettingMore neutral: stated
“Upsetting” attributes an emotional judgement to the students’ stated concern.
…the start of the spring 2027 semester, the NY Post reports, after opponents cited upsetting “colonial history” as their reason for the push to end the association.
Used byBreitbart News (Far Right)
Show 2 more phrasesShow fewer
Loaded modifier
barely 400 signaturesMore neutral: about 400 signatures
“Barely” judges the petition as insignificant rather than giving its size neutrally.
A petition with barely 400 signatures demanding the change sparked the move.
Used byBreitbart News (Far Right)
Loaded verb
AxesMore neutral: retires
“Axes” implies abrupt, harsh removal, which the reported plan of a phase-out does not describe.
Don with It: Woke California College Caves and Axes Mascot After 90+ Years
Used byBreitbart News (Far Right)
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From the left
0 outletsNo left-leaning outlet that Mantle follows has covered this story yet. That absence is part of the picture.
From the center
0 outletsNo center outlet that Mantle follows has covered this story yet. That absence is part of the picture.
From the right
3 outletsLeads with
- student pressure over colonial history
- a petition of about 400 signatures
- the end of a nearly century-old tradition
- “woke” label on the university
See the 3 headlines from the rightHide the headlines
- The Western JournalFar Right
Loaded modifier“Woke”The label “woke” pre-judges the university before its reasons are assessed.More neutral: California universityDisagree with this highlight? 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
- Breitbart NewsFar Right
Don with It: Loaded modifier“Woke”The label “woke” pre-judges the university and the students behind the change.More neutral: University of San FranciscoDisagree with this highlight? California College Loaded verb“Caves”“Caves” implies a reluctant surrender rather than a decision.More neutral: agrees to changeDisagree with this highlight? and Loaded verb“Axes”“Axes” implies abrupt, harsh removal, which the reported plan of a phase-out does not describe.More neutral: retiresDisagree with this highlight? Mascot After 90+ Years
For close to a century the University of San Francisco (USF) has warmly embraced “The Don” — a costumed figure sporting a pencil-thin mustache and a green Spanish-style hat that has roamed the sidelines in support of a host of sporting endeavors. Not anymore.
- New York PostRight
California college Loaded verb“caves”“Caves” implies a reluctant surrender rather than a decision.More neutral: agrees to changeDisagree with this highlight? to Loaded modifier“woke students”The label “woke” pre-judges the students who objected before their objections are assessed.More neutral: studentsDisagree with this highlight? by canceling mascot after 90 years
The administration plans to consult students and staff on the final costume design in the coming months.
The stories you read build My Mix, a private picture of which sides cover the stories you choose, kept on this device. What is My Mix?
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Who reported it when
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Left
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From the outlets Mantle follows
Center
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From the outlets Mantle follows
Right
First to report
New York Post, Nov 1, 7:25 PM EST
See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
- New York PostRightNov 1, 7:25 PM EST
- Breitbart NewsFar RightNov 2, 5:33 AM EST
- The Western JournalFar RightNov 2, 5:07 PM EST
Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out.
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