On Tuesday, September 9, 2025, a new TikTok trend took aim at the University of West Florida (UWF). The trend, which involves public urination on campus landmarks, hit close to home when an individual posted a video of themselves urinating on the new UWF sign at the intersection of University Parkway and Campus Drive.

The sign, featuring the university’s recently rebranded Nautilus logo, is a key part of UWF’s visual identity. The new UWF Welcome sign, which was just completed in Fall 2024, was estimated to cost $2 million. For UWF, the Nautilus represents a spirit of striving for greatness and the evolution of the university since its founding.

As of 7:00 p.m. CST on Wednesday, September 10, the video had a modest reach with under 1,000 likes and fewer than 1,400 followers. This local incident appears to be part of a broader trend that began earlier in September, with similar videos targeting new visual identities on campuses nationwide. Louisiana State University, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and the University of Maine are just a few that have also been targeted. In a similar case, the “Nicholls Pisser” at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana, was arrested following a university investigation.

The video has certainly caused a stir on campus. An inquiry sent to the University of West Florida Police Department (UWFPD) was not returned as of 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 10. However, a UWFPD staff member did advise that this is an active investigation and that information would be limited.

While there are no direct Florida state statutes against public urination, the act is prohibited by local ordinances in Escambia County, where UWF is located. In addition to violating a county ordinance, the individual could also face charges of disorderly conduct and/or indecent exposure, which are misdemeanors. The most severe consequence could potentially involve sex offender status in certain cases. Because UWF is a state entity that receives state and federal funding, the suspect could face local, state, or even federal charges, potentially leading to significant fines and jail time.

This trend highlights the negative and destructive side of social media. The videos are not only lacking in originality and creativity but also rely on shock value for a quick, and ultimately empty, bid for online fame. This poor attempt at going viral comes with very real and serious consequences.

Stone Dinwiddie, a junior at UWF, said he had seen this on TikTok going on around the country at bigger, more well-known schools. Even though UWF is a Division II school, he thought it was “kinda cool” that the university was in the ranks of “the big dawgs.” Dinwiddie’s perspective is understandable and unique. However, most commenters were disgusted with the post and did not seem appreciative of this act happening on campus. They also reminded the original poster that their grammar was subpar for a university of UWF’s caliber.

This incident at UWF serves as a stark reminder that actions performed for clicks can have severe real-world consequences. While the person who posted the video may have sought a few moments of viral notoriety, they now face the very real possibility of criminal charges, significant fines, or even jail time—a high price to pay for a few hundred likes. The act itself disrespects the university’s new visual identity and the Nautilus spirit of striving for greatness. The public outrage in the comments section and the ongoing police investigation show that this is not a harmless prank but an attack on the university’s reputation, a sentiment shared by many on and off campus.