UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO COMPUTERS DESTROYED IN LATE NIGHT BREAK-IN

From the Chicago Sun-Times:

Campus police at the University of Chicago this morning reported a break-in last night at their state-of-the-art computer lab and complex, after which many of their computer systems were either wiped or destroyed. Campus Security Director Ted Wassum noted that the break in had been expertly accomplished: "All our security systems were disabled -- our cameras circumvented -- infrared and pressure plates avoided. We have no trace of evidence to suggest who might have done this, and no motive to go on." The computer systems in the lab constituted the heart of the new academic program at U of C, and were the nerve center of the Computer Sciences and Electrical Engineering Departments. Damage to the systems was estimated at over $8 million dollars, although University sources reported an anonymous donor, when notified of the damage, had immediately pledged a donation sufficient to cover the losses. University President Harold Reimer noted that "it's sure been an interesting morning. With the appearance of this donor, it does not appear that our programs will be disrupted for more than a few weeks. However, the data on our computer systems is irretrievably lost. We hope the authorities can discover who did this to us."