UTRGV Prof Calls Me A 'Hater?'

In last week's front-page story, I wrote about how a group called Save the San Juan Hotel, led by UTRGV Associate Professor of Mexican American Studies Stephanie Alvarez, is claiming that the historic San Juan Hotel was the site of many lynchings of Mexican Americans and home to Tom Mayfield, a lawman who served Hidalgo County for many decades before passing away in 1966.

Alvarez claims that Mayfield was responsible for the murder and terrorizing of Mexican Americans for decades and that he displayed souvenirs of his victims in his room.

The only problem with her claim is that the professor has never shown any proof that what she says is actually true. For someone who makes her living in academia, one would think that this would be important — factual information. So, in last week's story, The Advance offered a $1,000 donation to the professor’s nonprofit of choice if she can provide any evidence, proof that her claims are valid.

Passing around false claims (my opinion, based on research) about a man who was highly respected in this county for 30 to 40 years, Tom Mayfield, while also claiming that the historic San Juan Hotel was once the site of many mass lynchings of Mexican Americans is wrong on too many levels to count.

I worry what is she teaching her college students at UTRGV?

Fact or fiction?

$1,000 Still Waiting

So, you might ask, did The Advance have to write out a $1,000 check to a nonprofit of Dr. Alvarez’s choice for serving up proof that would validate any of her racist claims?

Uh, no.

Instead, what did I get back?

A Facebook post written by Professor Alvarez, which someone kindly sent to me, or I would have missed it.

She labels me a “hater.”

From her FB post:

“There are haters out there that think this is all “fake news.”

Well, if it’s not fake news, bring us the proof and collect a $1,000 check made out to the nonprofit of your choice. LUPE, Las Mujeras Unidas, the animal shelters. These days, all nonprofits could use an extra grand to cover costs.

Come on, prof, is that the best you can come up with? Personal attacks? Is that what you teach your students?

I’ve included her FB post in this edit so you can see it for yourself, rather than re-typing it. I especially love the end where she includes a smiling heart emoji.

The one person who has written about her “three times,” as mentioned in her Facebook post, would be me, since I have written at least three stories about her attempt to slander both Tom Mayfield and the old San Juan Hotel, built in 1920.

All of which tells me that the professor has absolutely no evidence that Mayfield ever killed or terrorized Mexican Americans for decades, as she claims, nor did he display souvenirs of his victims in his room, which is especially gross for a PhD to say without any substantive proof.

If she’s into that sort of bloody narrative, just go back and read “Silence of the Lambs” for body parts and gore. If reading is too much of a chore, just watch the movie.

Nor does Alvarez have any proof that the San Juan Hotel was the site of many lynchings of Mexican Americans, as she claims in the flyer she and her group is passing around, posting online.

I'll keep the offer open to donating $1,000 to the 501(c) (3) nonprofit of her choice, as I did last week.

Alvarez claims she and her researchers have “plenty of documented info.”

So hand over copies for validation.

How hard can that be?

With all due respect, not that I think any is warranted, this is a put-up-or-shut-up offer to the UTRGV professor. If she doesn't have proof, quit spreading what I consider to be outright malicious lies about both an old historic building and an old lawman who was once respected in this community.

Also, please quit going to San Juan City Commission meetings where you get up before the audience during public comments and once again, launch into your ad hominem attacks.

If this isn’t attention seeking, I don’t know what is.

She does nothing for the city, this community, county by spreading around false claims that the San Juan Hotel was the site of many mass lynchings of Mexican Americans, and that former Deputy Sheriff/City Marshall Tom Mayfield murdered and terrorized Mexican Americans for decades.

The best she can do is call me a “hater?”

I’ve been called much worse.