TikTok 'Devious Licks Challenge' Closes Some New Trier Bathrooms

NORTHFIELD, IL — New Trier High School students engaged in a destructive social media trend face disciplinary action and potential criminal charges, principals warned.

Paul Waechtler, principal of the Northfield campus, and Denise Dubravec, principal of the Winnetka campus, notified parents last week that repeated acts of vandalism have forced some bathrooms to be closed to students.

"Over the past two weeks, we have had multiple incidents in which our school bathrooms have been subject to acts of destruction, from soap dispensers ripped off walls to fixtures stolen and garbage strewn throughout the stalls," they said Friday in a letter to families. "Students have informed us that this is part of a 'challenge' on the TikTok app to take and post videos of vandalism in school bathrooms or to show off items they have stolen from schools."

The "devious licks" challenge began early this month when a user on the social media site posted a video depicting the theft of face masks. A "lick" is slang for a theft or robbery. As students came back to school, they began recording videos set to a sped up version of rapper Lil B's song "Ski Ski BasedGod," showing off seemingly stolen school property in their backpacks. Some have caused extensive damage to bathrooms.

Waechtler and Dubravec told families that they have discussed the seriousness of the incidents over school public address systems and with students in their advisor rooms. They said administrators would pursue "strong disciplinary action" and report them to police.

"At the Northfield Campus, we continue to receive reports of trashed bathrooms and have been forced to close some bathrooms to students because of these repeated actions," they said. "We simply do not have enough available staff to provide constant monitoring of all bathrooms."

There have been about 10 incidents connected to the challenge at New Trier, primarily at the school's Northfield campus. Most of them occurred before the principals' letter, according to district spokesperson Niki Dizon.

Administrators are working with on-campus police officers while conducting an internal investigation to determine whether police involvement is necessary, Dizon told Patch in an email. One student had been referred to a peer jury as of Thursday.

Waechtler and Dubravec said staff this week would start enforcing the requirement that all students must display their identification at all times while on campus or attending school events and asked parents to remind students to wear their IDs every day.

"The destruction of school property and closure of bathrooms affects everyone and breaks our Trevian pledge to keep each other safe and healthy," the principals said. "Encourage students to report these acts and videos to a trusted adult. Our anonymous tip page, TrevTips, also is a way for students to report acts of vandalism, theft, or other concerns."

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