Unknown vandal sets fires in High Rise North

Since Sunday night, several fires have been set in the stairwells of High Rise North, charring posters in different locations throughout the building. And University officials have no concrete clues and divergent theories as to who the culprit -- or culprits -- may be. Residential Living Director Gigi Simeone speculated that the burnt posters may be related the Undergraduate Assembly elections. But Fire and Occupational Safety Director Jim Miller said he thought the fires may be an attack on the Penn Hillel Foundation. "Predominately, the posters not lit were from Hillel announcing some program they're doing," he added. "The assumption is that the posters [burned] are Hillel's [as well]." Simeone said those responsible may not have actually set the fires concurrently because the ash and scorch marks could have been left over from earlier this week. According to Miller, the first fire was ignited Sunday night, in the west stairwell between the first and second floors. Ash from burnt paper was discovered and reported Monday morning. Monday night, scorch marks were found in the west stairwell on the fourth, fifth and sixth floors of High Rise North, Miller added. The perpetrator switched to the east fire stairs on Tuesday -- burned papers and scorch marks were found on the second, fourth and 16th floors, along with the landing between the 10th and 11th floors. But the same night, posters were burned on the west side as well -- on the fourth and fifth floors, along with the landings between the second and third floors, the fifth and sixth floors and seventh and eighth floors. Simeone and Miller said they consider the situation extremely worrisome and dangerous. "This is not the kind of thing we like to see in a residential building," Miller said. "It's a dangerous, dangerous practice and any fire that's taken place in a residential building is a felony under Pennsylvania penal code." He added that whoever is committing the crimes is "worse than a guy running around with a gun in his hand." And Simeone said her department is "very worried and very concerned." "It is stupid," she said. "It is putting other students in danger." University Police and the Philadelphia Fire Department are also investigating the incidents. Simeone said she plans to send a letter to students living in all residences asking for their help in catching whoever is responsible. "It is really important that we get whoever is doing it," she added. "The consequences of this could be just tragic." Miller said he believes someone will eventually come forward, adding that whoever it is will be in "serious trouble." He stressed that to catch the perpetrators, his department and others "must show a presence" in High Rise North in order to convey the seriousness of the situation. Along those lines, officials of the Philadelphia Fire Department came to the University yesterday to begin its investigation. Miller said that in the meantime, no posters should be put up in the stairwells at all, given the potential danger involved.

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