Houston universities outraged by hate-filled Christmas cards

(12/19/06 - KTRK/HOUSTON) (KTRK) -- Millions of Christmas cards are in the mail, but we discovered one card that many call disturbing - especially since the card is filled with racial expletives, and claims to have come from the University of St Thomas.

We showed students the cards we received allegedly from their Catholic university. From the outside they look like run of the mill holiday mailings, but inside there's no holiday spirit, only hate.

"I think it's pretty disgusting. I don't understand why people would send this stuff out. There's no reason for it and especially with the title of the university behind it -- it's uncalled for," said student Dani Ojeda.

With a border of holly, the letters depict Santa as a Nazi, proclaim intolerant beliefs on religion and race and triumph Adolf Hitler - things no student we spoke to have ever been taught.

This statement from the university reads, "As a Catholic university we deplore racism and intolerance, it is particularly regrettable in this holiest of season."

Thus, officials call these cards bogus. That's because there is no organization called the Young Conservative Club as the return address shows, nor is there a history or social studies department. Also, the formal name is not St. Thomas University rather University of St. Thomas.

While some students are baffled by the literature and attribution, Dena Marks with the Anti-Defamation League is not.

"White supremacists, people like that, know that most people reject their message so they have to resort to trickery in order to get people to open these things up," said Marks.

And it's not just affecting university of St. Thomas. It appears Rice University is also a victim. A spokesman says these absolutely did not come from Rice.

It's unclear how many people have received these letters that look like holiday cards, but both universities want to set the record straight.

Those who fight hate say the good thing is once these are opened, they end up in the trash quickly.
(Copyright © 2006, KTRK-TV)

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