Devious Licks

Devious Licks

By Lucy Perkins

During the month of September, Exeter High School joined the long list of high schools nationwide that have been affected by the Tik Tok trend known as ‘Devious Licks’. The viral challenge, which rose to popularity in early September, encourages students to vandalize and steal school property. At Exeter High School, the administration confirmed that there have been instances of damaged soap dispensers, broken fire alarm strobes, and even attempts to dismantle bathroom dividers. Furthermore, there has been a major increase in graffiti in the past month. Additionally, among the student body, there are rumors of missing projectors and telephones; however, the validity of these claims is unclear.

During this time, administrators have been working tirelessly to prevent these acts from being committed and catch those responsible. However, it has been difficult to identify the perpetrators, as most of the crimes are being committed in areas without cameras such as bathrooms and classrooms. According to Mrs. Carr, an EHS administrator, one of the most useful resources for combatting ‘Devious Licks’ is the “See Something, Say Something” anonymous tip line that can be found on the EHS website. Any information a person has about possible crimes at EHS could be extremely helpful to the administration in their goal of making EHS a safe a comfortable learning environment for all students.

Beyond the administration, the ‘Devious Licks’ challenge has taken a toll on the maintenance staff as well. With the increase in vandalism, the custodians are being forced to devote extra time to cleaning graffiti and fixing broken items that could be spent in more productive ways. The acts committed in association with ‘Devious Licks’ not only demonstrate a lack of pride in one’s school but also a disrespect for those who work hard to maintain it.

However, it is important to remember that those who are participating in ‘Devious Licks’ are not representative of the student body as a whole; most EHS students do take pride in their school and their learning. For those wishing to do their part to prevent ‘Devious Licks’ from continuing to afflict our school, it is important to start the conversation surrounding the importance of respecting school facilities. Whether you are a parent talking to your child, a teacher talking, to your students, or a friend talking to a peer, reminding others of this concept can go a long way in preventing vandalism and other crimes. In order to protect our school going forward, it is important that we work together as a community and spread positive values to all students.