University of Idaho fourth-year David Catts has been the subject of much attention in the last week. From news articles to memes created on ‘UIdaho Memes for Scott’s Tots,’ Catts’ name has become well-known across UI’s campus.
Catts is most notably known as “the kazoo guy” from the Toxic Matriarchy event and as “the guy who stole the sign” at the Center for Bioethical Reform anti-abortion demonstration. Catts describes this behavior as “a little bit of trolling and a little bit of social justice.”
“There’s a satisfaction in screwing with people who have really antiquated medieval beliefs,” Catts said.
The most recent example of this was Catts stealing the Center for Bioethical Reform’s sign at their anti-abortion demonstration that prompted police involvement. The sign was intact once officers found Catts and no charges were filed against Catts for this behavior.
Catts believes the student body has a talent for coming out to protest against things they believe are wrong. And he plays a role in the student body being disruptive and protesting for social justice.
“I feel like something that I’ve helped contribute is to bring light to like, ‘Hey this is the s— that we’re doing on campus,’” Catts said. “I don’t know how large of a role that I have to fill but I do have a role to fill that’s particularly asinine and fun. I can bring light to the work that other people do that are more dedicated.”
Those more dedicated students that Catts is referring to include groups like Planned Parenthood and the UI Gender and Sexuality Alliance who show up to “basically everything like this” as Catts puts it.
Catts’s best friend and former roommate, Zack Bishop, a UI fifth-year, has known Catts for about five years. Bishop knew about the kazoo incident before it happened but did not know Catts was going to steal the sign until it happened. Bishop understands why Catts protests in the way he does.
“The reason he (Catts) disrupts things is because those people are disruptive as well so he might as well do the same thing,” Bishop said.
While many students enjoyed the kazoo outburst at the Toxic Matriarchy event, many students have expressed on the Facebook meme page their disagreement for what Catts did at the anti-abortion protest. Catts believes disruptive protests are more effective than more silent ways of protesting.
“People have this idea that, ‘No, you know, we’re gonna do a silent protest,’ I respect that, but I think that leaves some much-needed room for civil disruptions,” Catts said. “I enjoy that as a person trying to make a point and as a person who kind of loves pulling pranks on people.”
Despite Catt’s love for “screwing with people,” Bishop knows Catts gets along with mostly everyone.
“He gets along with everyone regardless of political belief,” Bishop said.
Catts believes he will continue to do things similar to this in the future but will think through them more carefully.
“I’m gonna play it by ear and next time do something that’s not illegal but equally as disruptive,” Catts said. “I would say as advice to others who might want to be disruptive is definitely do it, don’t do it illegally.”
Nicole Hindberg can be reached at [email protected]