A recent column in The Daily Collegian advocating violence toward white people spurred a barrage of calls and letters to the newspaper and prompted a demonstration by two people outside of the Collegian office yesterday morning.

In response to the column written by sportswriter Chino Wilson, two protesters waved signs and picketed in front of the Collegian office, 123 S. Burrowes St.

The column, published Tuesday, referred to white people as "devils" and detailed historical offenses against African Americans. Wilson suggested in the column that African Americans take up arms and form a militia to defend themselves from white people and to regain their independence.

One of the protesters, Eric Roll (graduate-engineering science and mechanics), said he hopes appropriate disciplinary action will be taken.

"I'd like to see him removed from the newspaper," Roll said.

The column's topic is discriminatory, he said, adding that the University supports an environment free from discrimination.

Another protester, Alan Herr (graduate-engineering mechanics), said he and Roll wrote a letter to University President Joab Thomas, but won't approach anyone associated with the Collegian.

"We've gotten seen. If no one else argues with us and no other action's taken, we've at least said our part," Herr said.

Wilson, who said he has received death threats, was not surprised by the reaction.

"They have no (reaction) but emotion because there's no other way to refute the column -- it's irrefutable," Wilson said.

Some students said the column incited racial tension and discrimination on campus.

One student even filed an act of intolerance yesterday against Wilson.

"Basically the article advocates violence against another group on campus," said Andy Ovies, Undergraduate Student Government West Halls senator, who filed the complaint.

Although freedom of speech is important, Ovies said, he feels the First Amendment should be limited when it reaches the point of violence against certain groups.

But Wilson disagreed that the column could cause violence.

"They say that A causes B -- A being my column, B being violence -- no, that's not true," Wilson said.

Collegian Opinion Editor Kevin Naff said he stood behind the decision to run it.

"We have freedom of expression in this country," Naff said. "It's as much Chino's right to exercise that as anyone."

Naff said the Collegian will not take any action against Wilson.

LaVerne Gyant, interim director of the Black Studies Program, said Wilson's column was not a matter of discrimination or racism. Racism has to do with power --whether conscious or unconscious, she said.

"People of color can be prejudiced but we cannot be racist," Gyant said. "There is nothing that we own or have that we can harm white people."

Rather, the column showed Wilson's anger and only expressed his personal beliefs, she said.

"It can be a dangerous piece on one hand, and on the other it gets people talking and understanding the historical experience of African people and some of the anger of why Chino possibly wrote a piece like this," she said.

Gyant said she believes only white people can be racist, and rejects the idea of reverse racism. Instead, there is prejudice, discrimination, misunderstanding and a lack of education, she said.

Ingrid McIntosh, assistant vice president of Black Caucus, said the column did not express reverse discrimination because Wilson does not have a power position.

"When Chino talks it's really funny how everyone listens -- I think they listen out of fear," McIntosh said.