An interview with Max Karson
Getting noticed on a campus as large as CU can be hard, but Max Karson got everyone’s attention with his controversial bi-weekly paper, “The Yeti.”
In Sept. 2006, Karson, 22, a junior psychology major, created his newsletter “The Yeti” and openly expressed his voice claiming first amendment rights.
Karson’s newsletter is available online at yetipaper.com. Each issue covers different topics ranging from racism to the treatment of women.
“When I got to CU and didn’t know anyone, starting a newsletter felt like the natural thing to do,” Karson said.
His newsletter quickly created a stir on campus.
“We used to celebrate rebellion, since the country was founded on it, and we used to cherish dissent and free speech and all that crap,” Karson said. “Now we run the country like a big factory with no room for joking around — on the other hand, it’s fun to mess with uptight people.”
While some people find the paper to be offensive, others find humor.
“The humor that Max is known for has been misunderstood by the campus community,” Danielle Alberti, a sophomore news-editorial major said. “Max has a way of using his sense of humor to show those who are willing to listen that while we think we’ve come so far as a society, we’re still beyond reason in so many ways.”
Originally from Amherst, Mass., Karson is still close with his family back home.
While receiving support from his mother and jokes from his brother, Karson’s father has mixed feelings about his son getting into trouble.
“He knows that he’s the one who taught me to blurt out whatever I’m thinking, regardless of the consequences,” Karson said.
As well as having family support, Karson also has fans.
“Max Karson is a titan, a hero among men, and a gentleman with overwhelming potential,” Evan Sandsmark, 19, a sophomore English major said. “Anyone who finds his work offensive is clearly unlettered and incapable of identifying sharp comic wit that illuminates grave social issues.”
Karson landed himself in trouble last spring regarding a comment on the Virginia Tech Massacre.
“I’ll say it again, anyone who says they’ve never thought about killing 32 people is lying,” Karson said. “We’re Americans, we worship violent imagery in our culture. We just lie about it, too. I’d rather go to jail than keep my mouth shut, which is sick, I know.”
After his comment, Karson was arrested and temporarily suspended from CU. Although he is back on the campus, he is still not completely in the clear.
“If I break any law or get suspended again before August 2008, the case will go to trial,” Karson said. “If not, then the charges against me will be dropped — I hope it’s over.”
As well as writing the newsletter, Karson has his own music album and short videos which are available online at yetipaper.com.
Contact Campus Press staff writer Cameron Naish at cameron.naish@colorado.edu.
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