We changed to the Toreros years ago because we are so close to the border, and we wanted to have a connection with that culture, because it is a big part of who we are. The Torero is thought of as courageous and honorable, and that is what a mascot is supposed to be. Opposition to the mascot points out that most members of the USD community do not know what they are supporting with their affiliation to the term Torero. University administrators from the Athletic Department apparently agreed that there is a large degree of uncertainty amongst the students. A memo from the Director of Athletics Tom Iannacone was recently issued in the hopes of clarifying what our school nickname officially means.
Torero comes from the Spanish term toro, the bull, and from the word torear, to fight bulls.
Torero is a general term describing a bullfighter and signifies courage, honor and fidelity. Defenders of the Torero nickname argue that it is not an abrasive moniker, as many people do not find the name offensive. If you want to hassle about words, then the name torero is pretty neutral, Sandra Robinson, a Spanish Studies professor, said. USD as a university for having that mascot does not promote bullfighting at all. It s just a name.