Harwood principals: Response to TikTok vandalism involves students, state police

September 22, 2021 | By Lisa Scagliotti

Update: This story was updated to add information from Vermont State Police.

Harwood Union Middle and High School administrators Wednesday morning provided an update to families regarding acts of vandalism and theft at the school by students, done in connection with a recently popular online social media challenge. 

“We have actively been addressing the harm done to our community and are grateful for the collective effort of our staff, students and families,” wrote high school co-principles Laurie Greenberg, Megan McDonough and Duane Pierson from the middle school.

By Wednesday afternoon, the Vermont State Police issued a press release saying that troopers from the Middlesex barracks have been working with the administration at Harwood Union High School both last week and this week "to investigate several incidents related to the social media “Devious Licks” trend" at the school.

"These incidents have involved the theft and vandalism of school property. Due to the ages of the individuals involved, the Vermont State Police is unable to release additional details regarding these incidents," the statement said, noting that further inquiries should be directed to school administrators.

The incidents occurred in the past week or so where students damaged school property and took items as part of an online dare of sorts nicknamed “devious licks” and featured on the popular social media platform TikTok and also on Snapchat. 

Since the start of September, a wave of incidents have been documented by teenagers around the United States using short video clips to show off items they’ve swiped from or damaged in school classrooms, bathrooms, etc. 

It seemed to begin with an initial post by a teen who took a box of face masks and then challenged viewers to see what they could pilfer. The post called the act “devious” and used the slang term “lick” meaning a theft done for attention or notoriety.  

Before long, there were clips online showing backpacks carrying COVID-19 tests, hand soap dispensers, paper towel holders, fire extinguishers, plastic cutlery, and more. In other cases, videos showed substantial property damage where restroom fixtures such as sinks and urinals and even mirrors were removed and damaged. 

TikTok last week addressed the trend and announced it would remove posts on its platform depicting these incidents and using the related hashtag labels to gain attention. 

Harwood principals have not said specifically what the damage at the middle and high school building has entailed, how many students were involved, or what the costs to make repairs or replacements for items would cost.

Some of the damage apparently was in restrooms as a number were closed in the past several days while repairs were done. Students Tuesday reported long lines to use the restrooms that were open and the principals in their message thanked custodians for making the needed fixes. 

Waitsfield Principal Kaiya Korb in the role of acting superintendent responded to an inquiry about the damage saying that repairs were not extensive and that they have been made. “Again, we wish to keep the focus on the role that we all play in our engagement with social media, and feeding a positive environment, rather than focusing on the actions of a few,” she said.  

The principals’ message on Wednesday morning acknowledged that Vermont State Police were involved – a state police cruiser was at the school building on Tuesday. They noted that police sometimes are involved in investigating various incidents at school. 

“Students or families may have seen state police at the school in the past day. There are occasionally incidents of certain types, such as theft, vandalism and/or drugs & alcohol, which in addition to the HUUSD investigation and response process, may be subject to state police investigation. Please know that no students are ever asked to speak with a police officer without prior notification and participation of a student’s family,” the message states.  

The principals also praised students who ran Tuesday’s high school assembly for addressing the incidents. They noted that additional discussions would happen today during time students spend in Teaching Advisory – a daily homeroom setting. 

Below is the message Korb said was sent to Harwood high school and middle school families from Greenberg, McDonough and Pierson. 

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Harwood Families - 

Our goal is to create a community where all feel safe: seen, heard, respected and understood.

Yesterday we were grateful for the work of our Seniors who at our school-wide assembly addressed the recent TikTok phenomena related acts of vandalism and theft at Harwood. These students called on their peers to consider how we uphold our values and what they wish to be the reputation of our school.  Today, our school community will engage in a dialogue during Teaching Advisory to consider the impact of the harm done and how we move forward collectively to continue building a school in which we all take pride.

We have actively been addressing the harm done to our community and are grateful for the collective effort of our staff, students and families.

In addition to our whole- community based response to these recent acts, internal investigation of the issues has occurred.  Students or families may have seen state police at the school in the past day. There are occasionally incidents of certain types, such as theft, vandalism and/or drugs & alcohol, which in addition to the HUUSD investigation and response process, may be subject to state police investigation. Please know that no students are ever asked to speak with a police officer without prior notification and participation of a student’s family.  

We are grateful to our custodial staff for the work they have done to repair our bathrooms; all facilities are again open in the building. 

We look to our community to collectively support our students and children in respectfully and responsibly using our facilities  so we can continue to be a school in which all  take pride in being.

In ongoing partnership,

Laurie, Meg and Duane