A Community Effort to Shape the Next Chapter of the Fence

Dear Members of the Carnegie Mellon Community,

The Fence has long stood at the heart of our campus as a dynamic tradition that has embodied creativity, expression and connection for generations of CMU students. What started as an iconic gathering place exclusively for seniors more than 100 years ago has continued to evolve over time to serve our students in different eras. It has been a place to gather, to celebrate, to share personal and political views, and to give voice to moments throughout our history.

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.

To ensure that this tradition continues to thrive, I am convening a working group dedicated to advancing conversations about the role of the Fence in campus life today and in the future. This group will bring forward recommendations that preserve the spirit of the tradition while addressing the realities of modern society and the needs of our diverse campus community.  The goal of this effort is to establish sustainable, consensus-driven approaches that honor the Fence’s legacy and ensure that it continues to serve our community well in 2025 and beyond.

This new effort builds on work already completed by the Commission on Academic Freedom and Freedom of Expression, which I charged in December 2020 to explore and clarify the university’s commitment to academic freedom and freedom of expression in a contemporary context. That commission created vital forums for students, faculty and staff to explore the meaning of this commitment, and it produced a comprehensive final report with recommendations that were shared with the community in October 2022. I am deeply grateful to professors Jon Caulkins and Bobby Klatzky, who served as vice chairs of the Commission and who have generously agreed to co-chair this new working group on the Fence. Their experience and leadership will be invaluable as we take up this work. 

I especially wish to acknowledge Student Government for their partnership and leadership. Their continued engagement, along with the contributions of students across campus, will be essential to shaping the future of this tradition. This effort will listen attentively to the voices of students, alumni, faculty and staff, each of whom has an interest in the Fence, while preserving its student-centered legacy. 

Charge to the Working Group

I charge this working group with considering how the Fence can continue to serve as a meaningful campus tradition while ensuring clarity, accountability and respect for its roles, and the boundaries of its roles, within our diverse community. The working group will consider the history of the Fence as well as CMU’s commitments to academic freedom and freedom of expression as they take on this important assignment. 

The group is charged with considering the following questions as it makes its 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? 

In addition, the working group has been asked to conceive and launch forums to solicit input from the campus community — whether through interviews, town halls, roundtables or other forums. These opportunities for dialogue will ensure that a broad cross-section of the CMU community can contribute to shaping the future of this tradition.

The working group includes students, faculty, staff and alumni who have been nominated by the Student Government, Faculty Senate, Alumni Association Board and Staff Council. 
I am grateful to all those who have agreed to serve:
 

  • Jon Caulkins, Co-Chair, H. Guyford Stever University Professor of Operations Research and Public Policy, Heinz College
  • Bobby Klatzky, Co-Chair, Charles J. Queenan, Jr. University Professor of Psychology and Human-Computer Interaction, Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Rebekah Adams, Ph.D. Student, Mechanical Engineering
  • Julius Arolovich, Undergraduate Student, Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) and Robotics
  • Creighton Arrington (DC ‘25), Master’s Student, Languages, Cultures and Applied Linguistics
  • Francesca Cain, Undergraduate Student, ECE and Biomedical Engineering; President of Undergraduate Student Senate
  • Alex DiClaudio (DC ’09, HNZ ‘11), Managing Director and EVP, Bedford Management Partners
  • Brit Farmer (DC ’08), Digital Producer at 60 Minutes, CBS
  • Christina Fong, Senior Research Scientist, Department of Social and Decision Sciences, Dietrich College
  • Ryan Freytag (CFA ’01), Director of Alumni and Constituent Engagement; Chair of Staff Council
  • Elizabeth Koch, Director of Student Involvement and Traditions
  • Joanna Lovering (CMU ’04), Founder of Copper + Rise; Chair of the Alumni Association Board (AAB)
  • Wes Pegden, Professor of Mathematics, Mellon College of Science
  • Aleena Siddiqui, Undergraduate Student, Materials Science and Engineering
  • Stephen Sudia, Ph.D. Student, English; President of Graduate Student Assembly
  • Tendai Ushendibaba, Housefellow and Coordinator, Office of Community Standards and Integrity
  • Laurie Weingart, Richard M. and Margaret S. Cyert Professor of Organizational Behavior and Theory, Tepper School of Business

I have also asked Mary Jo Dively, vice president and general counsel, and Gina Casalegno, vice president for student affairs and dean of students, to support the working group as advisors. 

Once the group shares its final report and recommendations by the end of this academic year, I communicate any next steps with the broader community. You have my assurance that we will preserve the cherished legacy of the Fence and the role it plays in the life of our student community every day. And through this working group, we will strengthen this tradition, honor its history and ensure it remains a source  of pride, creativity and connection for all who are part of CMU. 

Sincerely,


Farnam Jahanian
President
Henry L. Hillman President’s Chair