Andrew Students Vandalize School Bathrooms For TikTok: Officials

TINLEY PARK, IL — Some Victor J. Andrew High School bathrooms sustained significant damage after being vandalized by students last week, officials said. The damage comes as schools across the country are being hit by a social media trend encouraging students to trash school property.

As part of what's been dubbed the "Devious Licks" challenge on TikTok, students across the nation were encouraged to steal school supplies and deface school property, ultimately causing thousands of dollars in damage — all for the viral trend that glorifies vandalism and theft.

Andrew High School was a victim of the trend last week, Consolidated High School District 230 Director of Communications Carla Erdey told Patch Tuesday.

On Friday, District 230 Superintendent Dr. Bob Nolting sent a message to families regarding the incident.

"Apparently, the infamous app TikTok has been the incentive for many challenges we face this year. TikTok platform users promoted damaging bathrooms while on campus," Nolting said. "Individuals get recognized for new and innovative ways to destroy, damage, and deface their school's bathrooms. Like anything, a majority of our students look at these kinds of things as immature and not what our schools are all about. However, a very small number are taking it upon themselves to be influenced."

The social media app appears to have blocked search terms associated with the challenge. As of Tuesday, a message appeared reading, "This phrase may be associated with behavior or content that violates our guidelines. Promoting a safe and positive experience is TikTok's top priority. For more information, we invite you to review our Community Guidelines."

The superintendent went on to say that vandalism is a serious and egregious act that the district is taking very seriously.

"Due to our camera system in hallways and sensors in the bathrooms, and our dean's offices' learning and using TikTok, we are finding many of these students who are now missing class time, homecoming festivities, and, ultimately, paying for the damage," Nolting said. "I am asking all parents to remind students to follow the majority and not the minority."

On Monday, Andrew High School Principal Abir Othman sent a message to Andrew families as well.

"We continue to ask parents to help us with messaging to students about the severity of vandalizing our school," Othman said. "As noted in Dr. Nolting's weekly message about the TikTok challenge to damage school property, we have experienced significant damage to multiple bathrooms and identified individuals responsible for some of the damage."

The principal went on to say, "Obviously, we do not want to close some bathrooms and overcrowd others. As a result, our maintenance crew is working tirelessly to get the bathrooms cleaned and re-opened. Any student caught vandalizing will be suspended, will pay for all damages, and will have involvement with the Tinley Park Police Department."

The district did not state what specific damage was done or which bathrooms the vandalism occurred in.

Related: TikTok Challenge Blamed For York High Damage | Elmhurst, IL Patch