Throughout the years that the course has been offered, hundreds of thousands of dollars have been given back to the Waco community. Cuevas Peacock — Baylor assistant director of community relations – cultural wealth — said the class has helped students become more aware of the work happening in the Waco community.

“It helps me clear my mind and focus on what I am doing at the moment,” Athens, Ohio, senior Lindsay Zatta said.

Waco Police Department spokesperson Cierra Shipley said that the uptick in theft can be attributed to the return of students to Baylor’s campus. She said this increase isn’t unusual, as Waco PD always sees a slight increase in theft cases when the new school year begins.

The “Devious Lick” TikTok trend — which encourages students in middle schools and high schools to steal and vandalize the school and post it online — has spread rapidly throughout the country, with dozens of school districts issuing warnings to students if they continue to participate.