Campus Inferno

The University of Miami is suspending all classes while an investigation into possible arson and tampering with State-owned computer equipment is conducted to determine the source of the blaze which has ruined the computing center and one student computing lab. Tampering is suspected due to the manner in which the campus power grid failed in multiple ways to shut off and prevent the massive overload.

The Provost for Information Technology says that an assessment is still being made to determine the actual loss of information due to the blaze, which gutted the University’s primary server systems responsible for student records, electronic communications, and research and development projects under grants from various private and governmental agencies. The origin of this action is believed to have been a student computing center which was also consumed in a similar conflagration, along with most or all students present at the time. Police are searching for anyone who may have details of the sole individual some reported as having staggered out after the final explosion destroyed that facility. The Provost reports that this is a tremendous loss to the University and to all who depend on its resources, and that this act of arson may cost the University for decades to come.

Once police investigators finish their research, information technology professionals plan to attempt to recover and restore any data still remaining in conjunction with Advanced Data Recovery Services, who are volunteering 50 percent of their recovery costs in an effort to aid the Alma Mater of their chairman.