SAN MARCOS, Texas – An article published in the Texas State student newspaper is drawing sharp criticisms from people calling the column racist and offensive.
The University Star published the opinion column “Your DNA is an abomination” on Nov. 28. The column, by Rudy Martinez, claims “you were not born white, you became white. You actively remain white.”
Martinez told Spectrum News he approached his opinion's editor with a column idea he said is “going to be abrasive, it's going to be inflammatory, let's see where this goes."
The philosophy senior said he knew his words would attract backlash. Martinez explained that his piece is not a call for genocide, but rather the metaphorical "death" of the "white" mentality. The column states that “whiteness” will die leading to “cultural zombies aimlessly wandering across a vastly changed landscape.”
"I consider this piece a Molotov cocktail of words. And a Molotov cocktails blows up. It's a bomb, it's a bomb," said Martinez.
The column was pulled from the newspaper's website and the editors have apologized for publishing it. The University Star posted on Twitter that the “opinion pages are a forum for students to express and debate ideas. While our publication does not endorse every opinion put forth by student columnists or guest contributors, as the editor I take responsibility for what is printed on our pages.”
The Star’s editors said the intent of the article was to comment on racial identities. Moving forward, the editors will examine their editorial process.
Texas State University President Denise Trauth issued a statement wherein she said she was “deeply troubled” by the article. Trauth said the themes contrast the “core values of inclusion and unity” that the university strives for.
Since the article, Martinez said he has been getting death threats. He scrolled through his phone and showed Spectrum News reporter Kathryn Gisi message after message.
Texas State officials said he won't be writing for the student paper anymore.
Martinez concluded, "I stand by every single thing I said."