Carnegie Mellon University

Summary

In July 2025 a message was written on the Fence at Carnegie Mellon University, a long standing campus landmark where students paint messages on a large boundary fence that functions as a highly visible, informal forum for student expression, including political speech, protest messages, and organizational announcements. The message on the Fence read “SHAME ON YOU” and “NO RAPISTS ON OUR CAMPUS,” referencing sexual abuse allegations raised in civil litigation involving President Donald Trump.

Following its appearance, university staff painted over the message, students repainted it, and CMU facilities again removed it. After repeated cycles of painting and removal, the administration effectively prevented further use of the Fence as an expressive surface by directing university facilities staff to remove or cover any new writing and by suspending its use for painting while governance was under review. In practice, messages placed on the Fence were not allowed to remain and were promptly painted over by university personnel. The university described the message as anonymous and “personal, ad hominem,” and stated it was inconsistent with “transparency, integrity, and respect.”

CMU reopened the Fence on July 21, 2025 and announced the creation of a Fence working group to evaluate its long term governance. President Farnam Jahanian stated that reopening the Fence gave the community an opportunity to “learn and grow together.” The administration reaffirmed its commitment to free expression while maintaining that expression must align with standards of civil discourse. Over the following months, students and administrators continued discussions over Fence governance, including whether administrators should have authority to alter or remove messages once painted.

CMU leadership announced the formation of a Fence working group on December 10, 2025, appointing faculty, staff, and students to review Fence policy and governance. In late 2025 and early 2026, students circulated petitions and organized around Fence policy, calling for formal university rules that would prohibit administrators from altering or removing Fence messages once painted on the Fence. Students argued the Fence functioned as a longstanding student controlled space for expression and that administrative intervention undermined that tradition, while the university stated the working group process was intended to review policy and determine long term governance of the site.

On April 6, 2026 students held rallies at the Fence and delivered a petition to President Jahanian calling for stronger free speech protections. The petition urged the university to adopt formal rules limiting administrative discretion over the Fence and ensuring that messages, once painted, would not be removed or altered.