Let’s Put a Stop to the Deviousness

media by Grace Uhrain

The downstairs women’s restroom is closed due to vandalism Oct. 1.

The hashtag “deviouslicks” encourages “students to destroy and steal school property and then post a video,” according to James Doubek of NPR.

“Kids see the attention it’s getting and the online popularity, and they must think it’s funny,” Spanish Teacher Hannah Shear said.

Some students disapprove of the damage and the consequences that come with it.

“[Vandalism] impacts not just me but a lot of the guys, and they have to walk all the way across the school. It needs to stop and it’s just pointless,” Nikki Yoshida ‘24 said. “In the end, they’re just hurting themselves.”

The situation is worse in the men’s restrooms, and as of Oct. 8, all but two restrooms each for boys and girls remain open. For females, this often means lines out the door; for everyone, it means a longer walk to the bathroom.

“It was really annoying to go to the other side of the school just to go to the bathroom,” Elias Armaza ‘25 said.

Some of the vandalism includes spraying dye on the walls of the restrooms, clogging sinks with toilet paper and removing items like stall doors, soap dispensers and locks.

“MiO [is] a drink supplement in a liquid form that kids are using and I think there’s something TikTok related about that,” Assistant Principal Gregg Sheehan said. “They are squirting this dye on walls and in bathrooms. We need everybody’s help to stop the vandalism.”

The vandalism also has impacts on breaks given during class. Usually, these breaks are five minutes and students can go in the hallways to get their minds off school work. But now, these breaks have been limited to “in-class” breaks.

“The school vandalism has caused my teachers to be more strict about breaks during class,” Avery Witmer ‘24 said. “I appreciate the breaks my teachers give me because my mind needs a break during class.”

Gallery • 2 Photos

media by Grace Uhrain

A sign on the restroom door says it is closed due to vandalism Oct. 1.

There is also a possibility that security could be stricter during Access, and could even become a ‘lockdown’ in classrooms.

“I worked really hard to get my license just like recently,” Mila Owens ‘22 said. “I’m excited about the idea of going off-campus [during Access] and it’s nice to go home and stuff during that time, especially because of all the stresses of school.”

“#deviouslicks” TikTok users are planning more vandalism in the coming months, which could result in serious consequences. DCSD sent a communication to parents Oct. 5 about the new “challenges” and included the legal penalties for those who participate in them. 

“We’re aware of what they have out and their plan for the year. There are a couple of things that they are planning for the next couple of months that could be considered sexual offenses and the consequences could be with them for the rest of their lives,” Security Guard Mark Moran said.

In addition, students who vandalize could face criminal charges for their actions.

“If they’re vandalizing, it can be considered criminal mischief, which can be a class three misdemeanor all the way to a class six felony,” School Resource Officer Mark Adams said.

Class three misdemeanors can “result in up to six months in jail and fines from 50 dollars into the hundreds,” according to Shouse Law. Class six felonies can lead up to 18 months in prison and a fine of $1,000 – 100,000, according to Ave Mince-Didier of Criminal Defense Lawyer.

“If [students] see something, they have to report it,” Moran said.