When I saw the letter "Mascot reinforces stereotypes" (Nov. 22), I thought, "Oh, here we go again, another letter opposed to the Gaucho mascot because of its masculine gender." However, as I read on and went to the El Capitan home page and saw the logo, I could see the writer's point. This Gaucho does have a somewhat sinister look, almost exactly like the University of Santa Barbara's Gaucho mascot.

However, the mascot brings to my mind many masked heroes, i.e. Zorro, the Lone Ranger, Spiderman, Batman and Robin. The masked logo hardly glorifies gang-bangers or gangsters.

Although this logo is not what I had in mind when I argued before the Merced Union High School District board for our old name, colors and mascot (I was thinking along the lines of an Argentine cowboy), it is the logo that won the contest among the designs submitted by the students.

I hope the writer's daughter has a great time at this beautiful new campus we can all be proud of.

JOE FOSTER Merced