Trends are something that have a profound impact for certain amounts of time. A trend can consist of a dance, phrase, action, etc. The newest trend impacting the high school consists of stealing an item and posting it on social media.

Pulling, or getting a lick, is the name of the trend, and is usually what the stealing is called when it is posted on social media. Now, stealing something and posting it on social media makes it difficult for schools to stop other students from being incentivized to also pull a lick.

“So far in our school, it has started with some small things,” assistant principal TJ Meyer said. “We’ve had some staplers, remotes and stopwatches taken from teachers’ classrooms. We’ve also had issues with restrooms. Toilet paper dispensers and soap dispensers have been removed. Some of the items were just removed and placed somewhere else or some were actually stolen from the premises.” 

Some students may not realize legal action could take place and obvious educational punishment will take place. Most of the legal action will be up to the school and depending on how big the lick is takes into effect the level of legal action that could take place.

“It would fall under vandalism and theft, which in our handbook would be a three to five day suspension,” Meyer said. “Obviously, that would be the first offense, the second one would be five days, and, if something that continues or it’s a major thing, we could be talking about expulsion.” 

“We haven’t had to do that stuff yet since they have all been minor, and thankfully we have gotten all the stuff back,” Meyer said

The administration is dealing with the licks and has not issued major punishment.

“If the stuff were to be damaged or a major thing we could press charges,” Meyer said

Not only does the lick trend negatively affect the school, but certain people have to deal with the after-effects of the item that was licked. Most of the items that are licked come from the schools bathrooms and the janitors have to deal with replacing and installing those items back to commission.

Head custodian Steve Holladay wants students to know the extra work the licks are causing.

“I’ve got to go around and take care of all this stuff after it’s done,” Holladay said. “You’re not hurting somebody else; you’re not making the front pages, but you’re hurting a 64-year-old man that’s got to go around here and take care of everything you guys are doing.”