TikTok Challenge Blamed For York High Damage

ELMHURST, IL – York High School’s principal says the school has experienced vandalism to its restrooms, likely as a result of a TikTok challenge.

York High is yet another victim in a national trend of damage to school restrooms. The challenge is known as “devious lick.”

Last Tuesday, York High Principal Shahe Bagdasarian notified York families in a letter that the school has experienced vandalism to its restrooms.

The principal said students vandalizing the school will be subject to disciplinary measures, including payment for damages, and referrals to Elmhurst police.

"We will continue to monitor student usage of our bathrooms,” Bagdasarian said in the letter. "In the event that these behaviors continue, we will reduce the number of bathrooms available to our students during the school day."

Since the letter was sent, York High has seen no other incidents of vandalism, school spokeswoman Faith Behr said in an email Monday. She said damage to the restrooms was not permanent.

Eight to 10 soap dispensers and two mirrors were taken off the walls and were reinstalled, Behr said. In the case of a few of them, new ones were ordered and will be replaced, she said.

"We feel that this was an isolated incident resulting from the TikTok bathroom challenge and not reflective of our York student body,” Behr said in the email to Patch.