Yeah, so about that butt on the cover…

Craccum is proud to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of that time we got censored for having a straight up pornographic issue. To keep our butts covered (unlike our cover model) we will not be reprinting that portion of the magazine, but we thought a reprint of the ‘racy’ cover might be in order. For a little bit of context, in 2009 we decided to print a 70’s theme magazine, right down to the centrefold girl. The glorious butt on display was the tamest picture of a two-page spread of a woman in a sexy Velma cosplay, in a series of compromising positions around the university. Surprisingly that didn’t go down all too well. Trying to research what exactly happened next is a little hard because it seems that a certain student organisation has scrubbed the Wikipedia, but our writer of this week’s feature on the controversial issue tells me that most were seized and destroyed. Of all the bullshit Craccum has pulled over the last 100 years, I find it hilarious that the issue with a sexy Velma is the only one in Craccum’s dubious history to ever be censored. 

Don’t worry, we are not about to try to go in for a second issue to receive the honour – there is no glory in second place. However, we are wondering how this cover will fair in 2019. I would argue that we are of a different time 10 years on. I am hoping that the normalisation of nudity won’t piss off too many boomers this time around, but I’m not too fussed if they are. In the time of freeing the nipple and body positivity (and not to mention the interesting editorial choices of last year’s Kate), I have to wonder if we are really all that concerned about a plain old butt. 

Craccum is our place to do stupid shit and push the boundaries of “taste”. This week is no exception to that. In celebrating our poor choices we are remembering the moments we were ahead of our time, our genius going unnoticed and unappreciated. We are always going to be complained about, so we might as well have some fun with it. 

If you are a prude and offended by this week’s issue please send your letter of complaint along with your sexiest Velma picture to editor@salient.org.nz