In the good old days, they'd have spent three nights ripped on crank and staggered in to do their best. Ah, but kids today. Faced with having to take an ancient Greek exam, four students of Italy's oldest state school in Milan tried to avoid it outright by flooding the building. Their plan worked, but also caused about 500,000 euros' worth of damage to the recently refurbished building.

Three girls and one boy, all 16 to 17 years old, fessed up to blocking a few bathroom drains and turning on the faucets over the weekend leading into exam day. Carlo Arrigo Pedretti, the institution's headmaster, received a letter of confession after the seriousness of the situation became apparent.

"These kids have no idea the consequence of their actions," Pedretti said. They soon may. Though currently only dealing with a week's suspension, they may be charged with aggravated vandalism, breaking and entering and causing a disruption to public services.

» Scott Saxon