Carnegie Mellon University

Traditions

The Fence

In the middle of the Cut lies the Fence, the most painted object on campus. It frequently displays witty or poignant messages, but is just as often used to advertise upcoming events or recent accomplishments. Because of its highly visible location on campus, it is an ideal place to proclaim one's message to as much of the student body as possible. The original wooden fence was torn down in the early 1990s after the weight of the many layers of paint threatened to cause the structure to collapse. A more stable concrete replacement stands in its place today.

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Tradition dictates that the Fence only be painted after midnight and before sunrise, and only in its entirety. It must be painted by hand using brushes. If it is painted with spray paint, the painters would be cited for vandalism. A group wishing to paint the Fence must station two representatives on the small gravel region surrounding it; so long as two guards remain within the boundary, no other group may "take" the Fence. This sometimes leads to fraternities or other groups setting up a tent or campsite just inside the boundary so that they may keep control of the Fence for extended periods of time.

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Spring Carnival

Usually held in April, Spring Carnival is the biggest event of the CMU school year. Many students work hard all year to make it a success, and the Pittsburgh community is invited to attend. Alumni often return for the festivities, and Reunion coincides with the weekend. Spring Carnival features "Midway", with all the standard carnival attractions, and a Buggy race which is run over the course of the weekend. Many organizations across campus construct both a booth for Midway and a buggy for Sweepstakes. Judges decide on winners in several different categories.

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See also: Official Carnival Site

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Buggy races

Buggy, officially called Sweepstakes, is a race around Schenley Park. Entrants submit a small, usually torpedo-shaped, vehicle that is pushed uphill and then driven downhill. The driver (who must be a CMU student) sits inside the vehicle with the steering and brake controls. Brakes are used only as a last resort (to prevent a crash, for instance), but drivers who are forced to use them are allowed to roll in another heat with no penalty. The second-to-last corner of the race, a sharp 90-degree right turn, is affectionately called "The Chute" and is lined with hay bales to prevent spectator injury.

Related Topics:
Race - Schenley Park

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See also: Official Buggy Site

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Mobot

"Mobot," a general term resulting from shortening "mobile robot", is an annual competition at Carnegie Mellon that made its debut in 1994. In this event, robots try (autonomously) to pass through gates, in order, and reach the finish line. There is a white line on the pavement connecting the gates, and the line is normally used to find the gates, though it is not mandated by the rules that the robots follow the line. Towards the end of the course, the lines split and merge randomly, and knowledge of which line leads to the next gate is needed to consistently finish the course. This information is provided by the judges shortly before the actual competition begins.

Related Topics:
Robot - 1994

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The current undergraduate mobot course record is held by winners in the year 2001, Alok Ladsariya and Anthony Rowe, whose mobot used the CMUCam for capturing images of the racetrack. Their second robot, "Barney," is the only finishing mobot on record to call into question whether each gate must be passed in the forward direction in order to count.

Related Topics:
2001 - Alok Ladsariya - Anthony Rowe

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See also: Official Mobot Site

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Midway

For Carnival Weekend, the Morewood parking lot is turned into "Midway." Booths are constructed by campus organizations, featuring (usually) free games and cheap giveaway prizes. Some of the booths are intricate, multi-level affairs, showing off the creativity and energy of the students who construct them. Portable carnival rides are brought in and set up, along with standard carnival concession food (including funnel cake). Various musical acts, improv comedy troupes, and other performances are staged in a nearby tent, running throughout the weekend and providing a backdrop to the entire spectacle.

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Fiesta de Primavera

End of the year event is the Fiesta de Primavera, held on the last day of classes. The Special Events Committee of Activities Board gets a bunch of inflatable bounce equipment and other soft fun toys and sets it up outside (weather permitting). Equipment varies from year to year, but typically includes: bouncy volleyball, jousting, sumo outfits, slides, flypaper, big punching gloves, etc...

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Calling this a "tradition" is a bit of a stretch, since unlike many of the other CMU traditions, it only began sometime in the 1990s.

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Bagpipers

The sound of bagpipes is a common presence at Carnegie Mellon. The university is the only one in the United States to offer bagpiping as a major. Carnegie Mellon's Pipe Band plays at major university events, such as convocation and commencement.

Related Topics:
Bagpipes - United States - Convocation - Commencement

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cmu.misc.market

The internal bulletin board newsgroup cmu.misc.market, known to most CMU students simply as "misc.market," was originally established as a forum in which students could buy and sell items; hence the name. While this is still its nominal purpose, it has simultaneously evolved into a forum for the unfettered exchange of ideas. Students from diverse backgrounds use misc.market to take part in debates and flame wars on subjects ranging from politics to the uses of their student activity fee. misc.market has also become the default electronic clearinghouse for information about the campus community and Pittsburgh entertainment, since it is read by a large fraction of the campus community. The newsgroup's regular posters, known as "misc.marketers," run the gamut from first-years to grad students, and even include some former CMU students who have since graduated but kept their newsgroup access privileges.

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