Carnegie Mellon creates committee to discuss role of The Fence tradition

Carnegie Mellon University President Farnam Jahanian on Thursday announced an official 17-member group tasked with making new recommendations for operation of The Fence, which has been a long-standing campus tradition.

The announcement came in a letter two months after Jahanian temporarily shut down use of the Fence. The closure followed a controversial message painted by Carnegie Mellon University Democrats targeting President Donald Trump just hours before his campus visit for the Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit.

While The Fence — which has been used as a sounding board and symbol of free speech on campus — was closed for less than a week, Jahanian’s decision sparked conversation and concerns from multiple student groups.

“While our community is proud of this legacy, messages on the Fence — especially over the past several years — have increasingly caused hurt among our community and, in some cases, have given observers the impression that the university endorses the messages that are painted on the Fence,” Jahanian’s letter said.

The working group, made up of a mix of university students, staff and alumni were nominated by the Student Government, Faculty Senate, Alumni Association Board and Staff Council, will be looking to answer these questions prior to making new recommendations:

• What are the primary purposes of the Fence? Are the right tools and mechanisms in place to support its goals?
• How do, and how should, CMU’s Freedom of Expression Policy and Guidelines apply to the Fence? For example, if the Fence is used to express contested viewpoints, should people with opposing views be assured access to an equivalent forum, and, if so, how might this be accomplished?
• How can this working group build on the recommendations of the Commission to ensure alignment with the university’s broader commitments to freedom of expression and academic freedom?
• How can we reduce confusion, especially for external audiences, as to whether messages on the Fence reflect CMU’s views as an institution, or are endorsed by communities within CMU? What is the role and impact of social media on the Fence tradition?
• How can the Fence tradition continue to foster student expression and engagement while recognizing that words in certain contexts can cause harm, confusion or hurt in our community?
• Are there expectations around attribution, governance and use that can be better communicated, particularly during moments of increased visibility, such as campus celebrations, high-profile events or times of intense public discourse?

Advising the group will be Vice President and General Counsel Mary Jo Dively and Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Gina Casalegno.

Anthony Cacciato, president of the CMU College Republicans, said he had mixed feelings about the announcement. While relieved to learn that the university would be putting together a group rather than drafting new recommendations themselves, Cacciato was concerned about the number of faculty and alums with a “vested interest” in comparison to the number of students.

“I try not to be cynical,” he said.

The Carnegie Mellon Democrats were unable to be reached for comment.

While the group is expected to share a final report and recommendations by the end of 2025-26 academic year, it was unclear on Thursday what the timeline for forums to provide input from the campus community are expected to be.

Carnegie Mellon officials declined to provide further comment beyond Jahanian’s letter on Thursday.