Never Solved, Cornell University's Dorm Fire Has Become One Man’s Obsession

Yes, they mean to get a PhD 6 years after you graduate high school.

Out of curiosity, what drives you to push through it to the end?

Ok here’s what I got:

A long time ago people died in a fire at Cornell. It was probably arson. They never figured out who did it.

Later, some guy got obsessed with figuring it out, and thinks he’s got it. This other guy seems real suspicious. But there’s no proof.

So the reporter went to talk to the suspicious guy, and he didn’t want to talk about the fire.

So I guess we’ll never know.

I got a few things out of it, but nothing I didn't already know.

1) Real life isn't often like CSI. Things aren't easily tidied up like in a 1 hr TV episode. Many times these things aren't solved at all.

2) Most real life crimes aren't investigated by a Lt. Columbo, who shows up at the scene, immediately figures out who the likely suspect is, then badgers the suspect until that person confesses just to get some piece of mind.

Its a shame the article was so painfully written because it doesn't do the story justice. There was a lot of nuances in there. I can't believe the NY Times published such rambling drivel.

Let's see if I can capture the most of it:

In the late 60s there was a fire at 3am in a Cornell residence hall where nine people died. The fire may have been arson or may have been an accident, there's not quite enough evidence pointing to arson but very suspicious none-the-less. In the following months there were a series of smaller fires in the dorm, those were probably arson, but that doesn't mean the deadly fire was.

This tragedy should have been prevented or somewhat mitigated - the fire safety of the building was woefully inadequate, even for standards at the time.

It was suspected that the fire was a deliberate attack on students of a Ford Foundation funded pilot fast-track Ph.D. program. The students are colloquially known as the "Phuds" and they lived in the resident hall where the fire happened. The program ultimately failed miserably. There were non-Phuds in the building some of which died, they feel like they have been ignored.

Unsurprisingly many of the survivors developed survivors guilt and PTSD and Cornell didn't provide any services for the survivors nor did they even provide a memorial, the class provided a small plaque on the entranceway.

Some of the Phuds were very maladjusted and some exhibited antisocial and psychopathic behavior, which furthered the arson suspicion.

There was also criticism that Cornell hindered the investigation and/or there was a cover-up by the investigators but internal documents don't really collaborate that.

Some insufferable Cornell alumus in Arizona who had no involvement in the fire launched an amateur investigation a few years ago. He has fingered a Phud who had seemingly disappeared after the fire. He eventually figures out the guy changed his name, possibly (probably) stealing the ID of a dead teenager and is living in New Jersey. He's been pestering the FBI, local police, state police, and the prosecutor's office even though there's no actual evidence. He later admits there's no evidence the fire was even actually arson. A lot of people are annoyed by him but other people appreciate him shining light onto the fire.

A few people, including the "reporter" visit the suspect he doesn't want to talk about the fire and claims he changed his name to avoid family.

I think that's the majority of the details. There was also was a Phud reunion in there.