Radical Rattlers

A Narrative of Latino Students at St. Mary's University in the 1960's

In 1969, President of St. Mary's University, Father Louis J. Blume, declared the 1969-1970 academic year, The Great Southwest Heritage Year. This program attempted to fill the void regarding cognizance and understanding of the Mexican American's dual background on campus and in society at large. Programs and lectures created toolkits presented to teachers and school administrators in Kingsville, Edinburg, McAllen, Rio Hondo, and Corpus Christi. These toolkits served to teach the Mexican American youth about their history in a positive light, as opposed to the vilification taught in standard Texan education.

As students became radicalized and became part of the Chicano Movement, the institution demonstrated apprehension in engaging the movement until The Great Southwest Heritage Year.  While the program served as a step in the right direction, St. Mary's did little to foster a relationship with its students that formed the Mexican American Youth Organization (MAYO) off campus, arguably the lynchpin of the Chicano Movement in San Antonio.

Image of MAYO founders at a press conference. | Photo courtesy of San Antonio Express-News

The formation of MAYO and the important civil rights organizations it spawned were never honored by St. Mary's University, becoming increasingly removed from the university's historical memory each year. The university's historical memory also overlooks the commitment of the Latino student body in the 1960's to civil rights and equity. Several students from this period have been celebrated over the years, but have been de-contextualized from the decade that formed their politics and leadership skills. Using the St. Mary's University student newspaper, The Rattler, the next section explores how St. Mary's University saw an increase in Latino enrollment and a shift in student political attitudes from confidence in established politics in the early 1960's to radical activism at the end of the decade.

Support of Sit-Ins

Support for the march spurred a dialogue over civil rights previously unseen on St. Mary's campus. The Rattler sponsored several lectures on the issue, including "Civil Rights and Civil Disobedience," with guest speaker, Father Sherrill Smith, assistant pastor at St. Peter Claver and assistant moderator of the Catholic Interracial Council in San Antonio. During his speech, Father Smith endorsed disobedience if it's for a just cause.

In this editorial, Brother Charles Murphy, S.M. shares why he marched in support of the Civil Rights Movement.

President Johnson’s broad War on Poverty 1964 legislation created and funded several programs to provide low-income neighborhoods the tools to improve living conditions. The program created several education centers in Westside neighborhoods, including Linda Vista. The Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA), considered a domestic “peace corps” program brought several college-educated Anglos from out of state to work in the Westside neighborhood providing the same service Brother Otten and his students started in 1964. Though VISTA workers immersed themselves in their work and the community, the cultivation of students from the neighborhood helping their own neighborhood was an opportunity missed by St. Mary’s and other members of the Tri-College group.  

The Mexican American Youth Organization (MAYO) formed when José Ángel Gutiérrez, Willie Velásquez, Mario Compean, Ignacio Pérez, and Juan Patlán, all students at St. Mary's University joined together in 1967 to become an "organization of organizers,” seeking to create the infrastructure needed to give the Chicano community autonomy to become economically and politically independent from Anglo-created infrastructures. All five students supported the farmworkers’ strike in California and Texas, using labor organization as the template for MAYO. After months of meetings and planning, Los Cinco, as they came to be known, announced the formation of MAYO with a picket in front of the Alamo on July 4, 1967.

The lecture series proved popular throughout the school year, demonstrating that St. Mary’s could engage in student’s growing radical activism. The series died, however, after the local press created controversy over a moment during Dick Gregory’s lecture and local Anglos criticized St. Mary’s.  

As the popularity of MAYO grew, The Rattler editorial team used the paper to endorse the organization, even defending his “Kill the Gringos” speech. The paper quoted Charles Cotrell in defense of Gutiérrez, "the local press greatly misrepresented him (Gutiérrez). In hard and polemical language, he definitely distinguishes between a call to violence and the possible necessity of such. His language is harsh and salient, but his is not unusual today. His proposals are identical to those of moderate city leaders.” José Elizondo, another Rattler staff writer, also expressed his support for Gutiérrez and MAYO. He used his piece to take a pro-Raza stance and describe the etymology of the term ‘gringo.’ Most importantly, groups of students organized to assist MAYO in various ventures, including travelling to Crystal City to show support for Los Cinco’s election bid in 1967. The detachment of students from the institution had become evident.  


Editorials by Héctor Acosta and Father Adolf Windisch, S.M. regarding the religious apathy and division between the student body and St. Mary's University. The Rattler Volume 54, No. 8, 1969, Page 3.

The program created two studies that greatly contributed to Chicano and Borderlands Studies. A group of seven graduate students produced a background of the southwest with respect to Hispanic and Mexican institutions and peoples under Dr. Hubert Miller of the History Department. The material became part of St. Mary's curriculum. Dr. Idel Buckman of the Psychology Department presented an exhaustive study of the motivation, value systems, and educational and vocational aspiration of migrant children.

A list of sources used for this project can be found  HERE .

Image of MAYO founders at a press conference. | Photo courtesy of San Antonio Express-News

In this editorial, Brother Charles Murphy, S.M. shares why he marched in support of the Civil Rights Movement.

Editorials by Héctor Acosta and Father Adolf Windisch, S.M. regarding the religious apathy and division between the student body and St. Mary's University. The Rattler Volume 54, No. 8, 1969, Page 3.