Novak Addresses Devious Lick Trend: ‘Use Disciplined Decisions'
Ruby Gifford '23 Op-Ed Editor
On September 30th, Principal Novak gave his second announcement addressing the increase in vandalism at Howard following the “Devious Lick” Tik Tok trend where students record themselves stealing school property. “I’m returning once again to that Tik Tok challenge discussion. Why? Because we’re heading in a new month and there’s new challenges coming up.”
In this announcement, Principal Novak warned against Tik Tok challenges like slapping a teacher and kissing someone without their permission. “I've seen the little breakdown of all the different months and what the Tik Tok challenges are and I hope that when you look at it too, you're just as appalled as I am. Because pretty much every one of those is not just an issue in school, it's a crime,” says Mr. Novak.
This announcement was aired two weeks after his first time addressing specifically the “Devious Lick” challenge, where students around the country have been posting videos of themselves stealing property from school. This trend is the only trend that has recognizably and continuously taken place at Howard, where there have been multiple incidents of vandalized bathrooms.
“At a minimum, I would say about seven different bathrooms have been affected,” says Howard High Custodial Day Chief Jacqueline Coleman. “As you know, they have put inspirational signs in the bathroom. Those letters now have been rearranged to make inappropriate signs. So you have things from that nature to toilet paper dispensers being taken off, paper towel dispensers being taken off, soap dispensers being taken off, as well as a sink has been taken off. And it’s in multiple bathrooms.”
Ms. Coleman asks students to think of the entire student body. “As the bathrooms are being vandalized, they’re having to be closed to be fixed. Or if it’s a safety issue, they have to be closed until they can be fixed. So the whole entire student body is being affected by poor decisions.”
This Tik Tok trend has become such a widespread problem in Howard County that Superintendent Dr. Michael Martirano released a statement addressing it on October 11th that said, “I am lifting this up to publicly urge parents and guardians to talk to their children about their actions and use of social media and the negative consequences that poor choices will lead to. Our school system will not tolerate any such acts and will pursue disciplinary actions in accordance with Policy 9200 Student Discipline, and legal consequences.”
“These acts are serious and can carry long-standing consequences that will impact students’ plans for college, career and other goals,” says Dr. Martirano, “I would hate for a poor choice now to lead to disciplinary and legal consequences that could impact them for the rest of their lives.”
In this announcement, Principal Novak warned against Tik Tok challenges like slapping a teacher and kissing someone without their permission. “I've seen the little breakdown of all the different months and what the Tik Tok challenges are and I hope that when you look at it too, you're just as appalled as I am. Because pretty much every one of those is not just an issue in school, it's a crime,” says Mr. Novak.
This announcement was aired two weeks after his first time addressing specifically the “Devious Lick” challenge, where students around the country have been posting videos of themselves stealing property from school. This trend is the only trend that has recognizably and continuously taken place at Howard, where there have been multiple incidents of vandalized bathrooms.
“At a minimum, I would say about seven different bathrooms have been affected,” says Howard High Custodial Day Chief Jacqueline Coleman. “As you know, they have put inspirational signs in the bathroom. Those letters now have been rearranged to make inappropriate signs. So you have things from that nature to toilet paper dispensers being taken off, paper towel dispensers being taken off, soap dispensers being taken off, as well as a sink has been taken off. And it’s in multiple bathrooms.”
Ms. Coleman asks students to think of the entire student body. “As the bathrooms are being vandalized, they’re having to be closed to be fixed. Or if it’s a safety issue, they have to be closed until they can be fixed. So the whole entire student body is being affected by poor decisions.”
This Tik Tok trend has become such a widespread problem in Howard County that Superintendent Dr. Michael Martirano released a statement addressing it on October 11th that said, “I am lifting this up to publicly urge parents and guardians to talk to their children about their actions and use of social media and the negative consequences that poor choices will lead to. Our school system will not tolerate any such acts and will pursue disciplinary actions in accordance with Policy 9200 Student Discipline, and legal consequences.”
“These acts are serious and can carry long-standing consequences that will impact students’ plans for college, career and other goals,” says Dr. Martirano, “I would hate for a poor choice now to lead to disciplinary and legal consequences that could impact them for the rest of their lives.”