Meatball Lands on Laptop, Logging Student Out and Resulting in Exam Failure
SAM LEE – A 20-year-old student at the University of Georgia faced an unexpected challenge during an online exam when a meatball from her sandwich fell onto her laptop’s keyboard. This accident caused her to accidentally log out, resulting in her exam being automatically submitted with only half of the questions answered, leading to a failing grade of 39 percent.
The incident occurred on July 20, 2024, and Sam shared her experience on her X (formerly Twitter) account, explaining that the meatball had hit an escape button, closing the browser entirely. Initially worried about her laptop, her anxiety increased when she realized she could no longer see her exam on the screen. Despite trying to retrieve it, she was unable to do so.
That evening, Sam emailed her professor, Professor Lastrapes, detailing her technical difficulties. In her email, she humorously explained that a meatball had fallen on her keyboard, causing her laptop to malfunction and submit the exam prematurely. She attached photos as evidence of the incident.
To her surprise, the next day, Professor Lastrapes responded positively, extending the deadline for her Module 6 test until midnight. He lightheartedly suggested that she take the test either before or after dinner, showing understanding of her unique situation.
Sam retook the exam that same day, achieving a significantly higher score than her initial attempt. Her tweet about the incident gained traction online, with many finding it amusing and others praising her professor for his kindness. However, some criticized him for accepting her “meatball excuse.”
Sam’s story resonated with many, as several netizens shared their own unfortunate experiences related to exams. Despite the mishap, Sam found humor in her short-lived viral fame, remarking, “Never trust a meatball no matter how trustworthy it may seem.”