Release of the Fence Working Group’s Final Report

June 12, 2026

Dear Members of the Carnegie Mellon Community:

In September 2025, I charged members of the Fence Working Group — representing students, faculty, alumni and staff — to consider how the Fence can continue serving as a meaningful campus tradition while ensuring clarity, accountability, boundaries and respect for its roles within our diverse community. As part of this charge, I asked the working group to consider both the history of the Fence and CMU’s commitments to academic freedom and freedom of expression.

Today, I am writing to confirm that the group has sent me their final report, which includes their observations, findings and recommendations regarding the use of the Fence on our campus.

I wish to underscore my gratitude to the members of the working group for their thoughtful and diligent efforts. These students, alumni, faculty and staff have engaged deeply with a complex topic that touches on our university's history, traditions, values and campus experience. Their work reflects a serious commitment to listening, learning and examining the Fence within the broader context of Carnegie Mellon's past, present and future.

The final report of the Fence Working Group is now publicly available as part of our commitment to continued transparency and informed dialogue around this important campus tradition. Over the summer, I will review the report and discuss its recommendations and observations with university leadership, the working group and student government leaders. Our goal is to more fully respond to the report early in the fall, after we convene as a community for the new academic year.

I appreciate the commitment and contributions of everyone who engaged in this process. I am especially grateful to the working group and its co-chairs — Jon Caulkins, H. Guyford Stever University Professor of Operations Research and Public Policy in the Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy, and Bobby Klatzky, Charles J. Queenan, Jr. University Professor of Psychology and Human-Computer Interaction in the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences — for their thoughtful guidance and extraordinary service to our university.

I look forward to continuing this important conversation with our CMU community.

Sincerely,

Farnam Jahanian
President