The Tartan

On the night of Saturday, Jan. 25, a student group with intentions to paint the Fence in support of reproductive rights returned to their belongings to find three individuals they described as suspicious examining their setup at the Fence. 

One of the three individuals proceeded to destroy the group’s tent and space heater, according to Fence organizers and video provided to The Tartan. 

After calling campus police, organizers proceeded to paint the Fence in support of reproductive rights. Carnegie Mellon University Police Department are currently investigating the incident.

“We painted this fence in protest of politicians with no medical knowledge making medical decisions on behalf of women across the country, and in memory of those lost to the restrictions imposed on reproductive healthcare in the past 3 years,” reads the description of the post on the @cmufence Instagram account, a student-run account that accepts submissions of fences. That same description attributes the Fence to the Carnegie Mellon College Democrats.

The Tartan spoke with three organizers, all of whom were granted anonymity to protect their safety from the individuals who appeared at the tent. 

Organizers said their decision to paint the fence was inspired by their opposition to the March For Life against abortion, which occurred the prior day in Washington D.C. 

The organizers reported purchasing Fence painting supplies earlier that day and setting up a tent and space heater before leaving these belongings unattended at the Fence from around 5 p.m. to midnight. 

Upon returning to the Fence at midnight, organizers said they found three men in the immediate vicinity of the Fence.

According to the organizers, one of the men inquired about the Fence’s purpose. When an organizer revealed that the fence would be for reproductive rights, the man asked the organizer, who is male and cisgender, whether he was a woman. The organizers then reached out for more organizers as backup.

As more organizers arrived, the organizers said one of the three men began searching for the zipper of the tent. When unsuccessful, the man instead tore apart the tent as organizers verbally tried to stop him and attempted to block him, but refrained from any physical contact. 

The man then destroyed a nearby space heater, as shown in the video provided to The Tartan. Organizers said the man held two poles from the tent and referred to them as his “magic wands.”

The other two men did not participate in any property damage and eventually began encouraging the other man to leave. The three men then rode electric scooters away from the scene toward Forbes Avenue. 

Organizers noted that at some point during the interaction, the man engaging in property damage was searching for a specific person who was an undergraduate third-year student, though no such student was involved.

Notably, the destroyed tent was the same tent present at the Fence earlier this semester which said “F*ck Trump” — with a fist instead of a “u” — before the university painted over the entire phrase. Organizers also suspect at least the man engaging in property damage was intoxicated.

“Personally, I buy less into the theory that it was a few random drunk people,” one organizer told The Tartan. “The feeling that I had got was that they had gone as part of an organization to do some sort of recon or something.”

After the incident, organizers called campus police, who arrived and took statements. By the time the police left, it was nearly 2 a.m. Sunday morning. 

The organizers were unsure whether they would paint the Fence, but eventually decided to move forward “to specifically stick it to those guys and to point out their intimidation had failed,” although they did worry the men could return. Organizers completed painting without incident and the last ones arrived home around 6 a.m.

Organizers believe they have identified the man responsible for the property damage and have sent video evidence to Carnegie Mellon University Police, which declined to comment as the investigation is ongoing.

In a recent statement, the Undergraduate Student Senate provided to The Tartan, they said, “The recent destruction of property at The Fence runs counter to the values we hold as a student government and as members of the Carnegie Mellon community. We are aware that police investigations are underway, and we hope those responsible for this senseless act are held accountable. 

“In the meantime, student government leadership has reached out to the organizations whose tent and heater were destroyed to offer support and address their immediate needs.”

Organizers of the Fence painting expressed satisfaction with campus police’s handling of events. One organizer said he had a 40-minute interview with the police as part of their investigation.

“If some disciplinary action were to be taken, then it would really increase my appreciation of those guys,” said that organizer. Another organizer also approved of the university response and felt heard by first responders.

“If we’re doing any sort of left-leaning political fence, we’re going to be very careful about it,” said an organizer. 

In general, organizers reported that they were planning on implementing safety measures such as a buddy system and requirement to have a defensive object when inside the tent, given the man who destroyed the tent did not appear to check whether anybody was inside first.

“Despite all this happening,” said one organizer, “this is not going to be a major barrier for the continuation of [Fence paintings] — and the continuation of political fences.”

The Tartan has requested more information from Carnegie Mellon Police Department, however,  they could not comment, as the investigation was ongoing.