Editor’s Note: The Oakland Post does not endorse indecent exposure or disorderly conduct on campus.

There are a few images burned into my brain quite like this one: a TikTok video showing a stream of urine, panning up to Elliott Tower in the background.

Oakland University, like most college campuses across the U.S., has a long history of tomfoolery on campus. This September is no exception, with the emergence of the OU Pisser on TikTok.

With over 800 followers, almost 10,000 likes and a video surpassing 94,000 views, the OU Pisser has managed to enter the explore page of many OU students. 

On campus, this TikTok account has become a hot topic. Who is the OU Pisser? Are they actually peeing, or is it a water bottle? What made them do it?

The Oakland Post set out to find some answers.

Although the OU Pisser did not respond to The Oakland Post’s request for comment, a close friend of the OU Pisser agreed to an interview. Per their request, The Oakland Post has granted anonymity to the source.

“He’s a friend. I met him over the summer, and then I think we were at something, and he was like, ‘Do you want to know something funny?’ I was like, ‘What?’ He’s like, ‘I’m the Oakland pisser,’” the OU student said.

“And then I was like ‘Wait, I need proof,’ and he showed me his phone and the TikTok.”

The humor of the situation soon set in.

“It’s the funniest thing I’ve ever seen,” the student said. “I’m not gonna snitch on him for it.”

The friend explained that although this specific social media account may seem outrageous, it’s not unique to OU. Similar viral trends have emerged across dozens of universities around the country.

“If you guys haven’t known, [it’s become] a really big trend on a lot of campuses. I have a friend at Penn State – there’s five different people doing it … It’s really just like a sh*ts and giggles trend on social.” 

The source compared it to other high school or college stunts, such as the “Devious Licks” challenge.

“I remember in high school – do you remember Devious Licks, and someone tried stealing a sink from one of the bathrooms? …  I feel like it’s very much on those lines.”

The Oakland Post asked about the potential reasons behind the creation of this account.

“He genuinely just does it because he thinks it’s funny. Low key, it is pretty funny.” 

Still, the friend admits they have warned the OU Pisser about potential consequences. 

“But I told him, I was like, ‘If you get caught, you do know that’s like indecent exposure, and you can get on the sex offenders list.’ Even though I think peeing in public is not something you can get put on the sex offenders list for.”

Technically, public urination is a criminal offense, and it often falls under laws regarding indecent exposure or disorderly conduct. A first-time offender will not have to register as a sex offender, unless under severe circumstances. However, the law leaves room for interpretation. 

OU addresses public urination in its core standards and behavioral expectations section in the student code of conduct. Public urination is considered a violation under public exposure policies.

“Public Exposure: Includes without limitation deliberately and publicly exposing one’s intimate body parts, public urination, defecation and public sex acts,” the code reads. 

If caught violating this behavioral expectation, students are subject to OU policies and applicable local laws.

“Students and student organizations who attempt to violate, conspire to violate and/or violate any of these standards, any OU Policies and/or any Applicable Law are subject to sanctions as described in this SCC,” the code explains.

Despite the policies, a debate has spread across campus: Is the OU Pisser actually, well, peeing? 

“A few of them, yes, 100% he’s actually peeing,” the friend said.

Still, the source admitted that not every video may involve real urine.

“I do think there have been occurrences in such a spot where it is a water bottle, but I’m not for sure that it’s not all him peeing. I know he has actually gone pee, though.”

When asked what inspired the student to post videos like this, the friend responded quickly.

“Clout chasing,” the student said. “Especially within that friend group that he’s in, I’m like, ‘yeah, this tracks.’” 

His intentions are not necessarily malicious – instead, it was explained that it is more of an inside joke within a friend group.

“I think it’s just a funny joke between him and his friends, mainly, to see how crazy can this get.”

When asked if there were any hints about his identity, the friend said:

“It’s not someone I think a lot of people would expect it to be, unless you knew them. If you knew who it is, you’d be like, ‘No, that tracks so hard.’ [But if] you just heard about him, you’d be like, ‘No, like that feels so weird he would do that.’”

When asked if there are student organizations he is involved in that would offer a clue, the source couldn’t share.

“That would give it away. Especially like, if I named the specific org, it would give it away.”

So, the OU Pisser remains anonymous – but his story certainly does not. A strange, bawdy campus legend is in the making. One thing is for sure: a lot of people on campus are talking about him.