The effects of a worldwide TikTok trend have made their way to the Pali campus. The result: vandalized walls and stolen school supplies. 

Popularized by user @jugg4elias, the “Devious Licks” trend gained traction on TikTok in early September. In the video that started it all, he reached into his backpack and pulled out a box of disposable masks that belonged to his school.  The caption read: “A month into school… devious lick.” 

The video attracted more than 239,000 views in just one week and it didn’t take long for students across the globe, even some right here at Pali, to join in on the action. As the trend started gaining popularity, many users posted TikTok videos of vandalized or stolen school items, such as soap dispensers, exit signs and toilets, with the collection garnering millions of views. 

The staff and faculty at Pali stand firmly against this “Devious Lick” behavior on campus. 

“I think it encourages students to believe these acts of vandalism are OK,” Assistant Principal Russel Howard said. “This trend also lowers the morale of adults, and the respect students have towards their campus.”

Similarly, April Schoellnast, Pali’s history department co-chair, said she is disappointed in students’ adoption of the trend at Pali, especially after more than a year of staying home due to COVID-19. 

“As a teacher, it makes me feel like they don’t appreciate being back in person,” she said. “I thought that they were begging to get back.” 

Schoellnast added that she believes that students are negatively affected by this trend. “I think it makes them feel bad too because they don’t want to see their peers doing this,” she said. 

Pali Director of Operations Don Parcell stated that the students who were caught with stolen or vandalized items have “been suspended, as will others.” Depending on the severity of their offense, these students may even be cited for vandalism or expelled, Parcell said. 

In addition, Howard said that these students also may have a large fine to pay. 

Parcell added that the “Devious Lick” trend “costs the school money and takes that money away from being spent on more proactive and positive things for the school and students.” Instead, funding is used to replace the missing items and repair the damaged ones, he said. 

Moving forward, school officials have devised a plan to prevent more students from participating in this trend. 

Parcell said that they will “place more security guards and PCHS Staff at and near points of potential impact, as well as [add] additional security cameras to help further identifications.” 

Despite this, both teachers and staff said they still have faith that these actions won’t be necessary. 

“We hope all students will realize that stealing and damaging school property is not the smart or cool move and will resist the trend and rise above it by ignoring it,” Parcell said. 

Schoellnast added: “Teachers do believe in kids and do believe in good kids. So to any kids who are doing the right thing, we notice that and we appreciate that.”