A new trend has arrived on university campuses, known online as “The University Pisser." People are pretending to urinate on campus property; while this trend may be funny to some, there could be some serious consequences students might face if they are actually being caught urinating on public property.
"University Pisser" trend
This recent trend has flooded college campuses around the world, and typically involves somebody pretending to urinate on things around a college campus. These things are typically buildings or signs, but in some cases they are also furniture or statues on campus.
Additionally, there are accounts that are made whose whole gimmick is “catching," or identifying the original accounts, almost acting as a vigilante-like figure. These accounts go to the scenes of the crime in several videos in search of the culprit. As of writing, Wright State University has two separate TikTok accounts participating in this trend, with a count of 350 followers between the two.
In Ohio, the trend seemingly took off at Bowling Green State University before it spread to other colleges throughout the area. At BGSU, the trend has only gotten crazier, adding several other types of bodily fluid capers and several different people on the hunt. At the moment, WSU only has accounts focused on the urination part of the trend.
One of the accounts, @wrightstatepisser on TikTok, had this to say when it came to why they were doing the trend:
“It's a trend, and everyone loves a good villain story."
This account has 180 followers and seven videos at different locations. Some of these locations include alumni power, the outside amphitheater and BART. One video, posted in broad daylight, toys with followers who are in on the joke.
“I walk among you” the video said.
Students are reacting to this trend on and offline. Some think that even if the videos are fake, it is unhygienic; Samantha Melowic, a middle childhood education major, shares this opinion with many other students.
“If you think about it, it's kind of gross. Peeing is unhygienic, and even if they're not actually doing it, it's kind of disgusting," Melowic said.
Other students do not quite see the appeal in the joke, but understand that it is a trend, like Shaelyn Sturgill, an intervention specialist major.
“I don't really find it funny, but I know it's a joke and there are some people who think it's funny. Trends are trends for a reason, I guess," Sturgill said.
The students are not the only ones that are reacting. The university has responded to reports of the current TikTok account owner. Currently, the WSU Police Department has confirmed that the likelihood of these videos being fake are high.
“We are aware of social media accounts that suggest individuals are urinating on campus property. After reviewing the videos, it looks like the people involved are using water bottles to make it appear worse than it really is. While this is clearly being done for online attention, we take these kinds of concerns seriously and are keeping an eye on the situation,” Chief of Police Kurt Holden explained.
Legal ramifications
While this trend is a joke, and most that participate fake the act of urinating by using a water bottle, there have been instances of students participating in this trend by actually urinating and getting in legal trouble as a result.
According to Middle State Tennessee University’s student-led newspaper the MSTU Sidelines, a student was found on their campus publicly urinating while participating in the trend. He was charged with public indecency and is facing a fine and community service time following a ruling from a judge.
Others also face punishment even when using a water bottle or similar method to recreate the act. At the University of Texas at San Antonio, a former student was caught by their Police Department participating in the trend around campus. It was found that they were using a water bottle, but they have since made a video on Instagram taking “full responsibility," and urging people to not participate in the trend, as they faced legal punishment for the act.
They were originally charged with criminally trespassing, but ultimately let off with a warning.
At WSU, the police department takes matters of public decency very seriously.
“This trend has shown up at other universities, and while most of it is staged, it can still have consequences under university policy or the law if real misconduct occurs. Our focus remains on maintaining a safe and respectful campus environment," Holden said.
If caught, there are various consequences students could face. Not only could they be held criminally responsible, but they could also be referred to student conduct to face consequences.
In the city of Dayton, public urination is a minor misdemeanor for a first time offense and subject to a fine of $150 and other punishments. If caught doing it more than once, there are some serious legal ramifications that can come. Some of these include up to 60 days in jail or a $500 fine.
Trends come and go often, and while it may seem funny to participate in them, some can put individuals at risk of serious consequences.
