For years, upperclassmen have clashed in a ruthless weeklong war. The battles, which take place in the middle of the night, typically include parties of students and guerilla-style warfare. Their weapon of choice? Toilet paper.

TP-ing, as it’s called, is the act of covering an object (such as a tree) with toilet paper. Most commonly, acts of toilet papering during TP week are juniors versus seniors, or vice versa. Though some claim it to be ‘just decorating’, many partake in TP-ing as a prank or a form of revenge, and aren’t aware of its possible consequences.

Decades of shenanigans

Todd Anthes, a 1988 graduate of Grand Haven High School, says high schoolers here have been TP-ing for decades.

“It happened quite a bit, along with numerous other malicious types of stuff,” Anthes said. “It corresponded with school events. Definitely around homecoming, or if somebody wanted to make a point or do something to draw attention to somebody then they would do it.”

Anthes believes that TP-ing was all in good fun in the 80’s.

“It has usually been in a good-natured manner,” Anthes said. ”Obviously there were times when people got TP-ed when they were trying to prove a point because they didn’t like somebody, but it’s mostly been as you indicate (in a good manner).”

Branches aren’t just for leaves

When senior Claire Vanwieren woke up on Monday of last year’s homecoming week, she didn’t expect there to be a white wonderland around her home, or at least that early in TP week.

“I was kinda just shocked because I got TP-ed so badly,” Vanwieren said. “I kind of expected it. A lot of the seniors at the time told me they were going to do it…I just didn’t plan ahead for it”

Vanwieren, who says her friends are the ones who did it, insists that it wasn’t done to be mean, and that she doesn’t take offense to it.

“My mom was kind of pissed, but my dad thought it was really funny,” Vanwieren said. “He texted me at school and told me to tell my friends they did a really artistic job. My mom was annoyed because she had to help clean it up, but she wasn’t too mad.”

The culprits also saran-wrapped Vanwieren’s family’s cars, adding to the clean up process which lasted a few weeks.

Toilet paper and trouble

Though TP-ing itself isn’t illegal, Ottawa County Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Devries says that it’s trespassing which can get students in trouble.

“It would all fall under who you’re TP-ing,” Devries said. “If they want to push it to a prosecutor, they can press charges.”

Devries simply doesn’t understand the logic in TP week.

“I don’t get it,” Devries said. “I think it’s pretty unfair to those people…All you’re doing is taking away someone’s time. Maybe think about what the next steps are for the homeowner (who gets TP-ed). It’s a maturity issue.”

Dreaming of a white homecoming

Still, many students ignore the repercussions that could come of TP-ing.

John*, a senior, said he went out every single night of TP week his junior year, usually not getting home until 3 or 4 in the morning.

“We TP-ed anybody and everybody,” John said. “I hit the kids that I didn’t like harder than the kids I did like. We meet up at a place, and then take a maximum of three cars. The less cars the better. When we roll up, we turn our lights off about 100 yards before (the house), and we’ll make a plan of action, basically. Then we execute and destroy. Then we sneak away, and see where to go next.”

During TP week, John’s trunk was filled to the brim with toilet paper, while his backseat was littered with TP wrappers. John says he spent at least $75, maybe $100 on TP week, and didn’t just buy toilet paper.

“(We also) forked one house, put instant mashed potatoes on kids’ lawns, and saran-wrapped cars, “John said.

John does it for fun.

“It’s something to talk about at school, it’s like ‘Oh we’re going TP-ing tonight? Who’re we gonna get?’” John said. “It’s a tradition. Every class does it, you have to keep the tradition going.”

*John’s name has been changed to protect his identity.