An outrageous incident occurred on September 8 at the Liangzhu campus of the China Academy of Art in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, when a sewage pipe in a classroom burst, drenching a female student with dirty water mixed with feces. The student, who was alone in the room, was soaked from head to toe while desks, computers, and books were destroyed.
Witnesses said the student broke down in tears, standing barefoot in the flooded room and crying, “I shouldn’t have sat here, what do I do now?” In addition to the emotional trauma, academic materials and electronic equipment were ruined.
The school later claimed the pipe burst because a student’s glasses had fallen into the system, causing a blockage. It said the site had been cleaned and disinfected with “no remaining odor.” However, the explanation immediately drew skepticism, with many accusing the school of downplaying the issue.
Experts questioned the claim, noting that a pair of glasses is too small to cause such a rupture. They pointed instead to possible structural defects, aging pipelines, or poor maintenance. While some netizens mocked the event with phrases like “trouble literally falling on your head,” others demanded the school provide compensation and proper support for the student, including health checks and psychological care.
Legal experts warned that if design flaws or maintenance negligence are proven, the school could be held liable for damages under China’s Civil Code. They urged an independent investigation to determine the real cause and prevent the “glasses excuse” from becoming a way to shirk responsibility.
