Carnegie Mellon University traditions
Carnegie Mellon traditions blend engineering, arts, and community.
Carnegie Mellon University has developed a range of traditions over its more than 100-year history, many reflecting its engineering heritage and others purely social. Notable among these are the buggy races, mobots, Spring Carnival, and The Fence, which together contribute to the campus culture.
Quick Facts
- Written
- 1924
- Genre
- Alma mater
- Composer
- J. Vick O'Brien
- Lyricist
- Charles J. Taylor
Facts from the source article.
Alma Mater
The alma mater of Carnegie Mellon University, originally composed when the school was called Carnegie Institute of Technology, was written by Charles J. Taylor with music by J. Vick O'Brien. The institute copyrighted the song in 1924. Though it is not sung as frequently as alma maters at some other schools, it remains an important part of the university's culture and history. It is performed at convocation for new students, commencement for graduates, and official events like the inauguration of a new president. The Kiltie Band also plays it at select home games. The first verse references Pittsburgh’s history as a frontier gateway after American independence, describing the wilderness settlers crossed, and ends with a proud mention that Andrew Carnegie founded the university. The second verse starts with Pittsburgh’s role in the nation’s founding and touches on the labor movement through the Antebellum Era and Gilded Age. It notes Carnegie’s original vision for the school as a vocational institution for steelworkers’ children, and how the university later added the arts—including the first degree-granting drama program—while maintaining its technical and scientific focus. The final verse speaks to the university’s commitment to academic excellence and the ongoing pursuit of knowledge.
The Fence
The Fence, built in 1923, stands in the middle of the Cut and frequently displays witty or poignant messages, as well as advertisements for upcoming events or recent accomplishments. Its highly visible location makes it ideal for reaching the student body. The original wooden fence collapsed in 1993 under its own weight due to six inches of surrounding paint, at which time it held the Guinness World Record for being the most painted object. A concrete and steel reinforced fence now stands in its place, imitating the size it would be today, and students continue to paint it in an effort to break the record. The fence has four inches of paint. In August 2008, the graduating class of 2008 at the Carnegie Mellon Silicon Valley Campus installed their own version of the fence, dedicating it to Randy Pausch. On March 21, 2011, six freshman students defaced the fence with a hacksaw, cutting away over two years' worth of paint layers; they were stopped by fellow students, CMU Police Officers, and representatives from the Office of Student Affairs. The following night, hundreds of students helped paint the fence to heal it. Facilities Management Services repaired the fence by removing the chunks on March 23, leaving dozens of layers visible. The Fence is used to advertise events, recognize political views, religious or ethnic holidays, and support underrepresented groups. In 2026, multiple organizations called for the university to drop an investigation into students for pro-Palestinian messages on The Fence.
Spring Carnival
Spring Carnival, typically taking place in April, marks the most significant event on Carnegie Mellon’s calendar, granting students a four-day break. The event, which requires year-long preparation from many students, welcomes the Pittsburgh public. Alumni frequently join the celebration, and Reunion is scheduled for the same weekend. The carnival includes a Midway with classic fair attractions and a Buggy competition held across the weekend. Numerous campus groups create both a Midway booth and a buggy for Sweepstakes. Buggy, formally known as Sweepstakes, is a race through Schenley Park. It functions like a five-runner relay where the buggy serves as the baton. Teams enter a small, often torpedo-shaped vehicle that gets pushed uphill and then free-rolls downhill. The driver, always a Carnegie Mellon student and typically short, light, and female, lies inside controlling steering and brakes. The buggies have no power source, and energy-storing devices like flywheels are banned. Brakes are mandatory but seldom used, usually only to avoid crashes or to slow the buggy at the finish so the pusher can maintain contact, as disqualification results if the pusher is not touching the buggy at the line. Drivers forced to brake due to another driver cutting them off can appeal for a re-roll without penalty. The second-to-last turn, a sharp 110-degree right bend nicknamed The Chute, is padded with hay bales to protect drivers and spectators. Speeds in The Chute often reach around 35 mph. The Student Dormitory Council holds the current men’s record at 2:02.16 and the women’s record at 2:23.27, both set in 2017.
Kiltie Band
Carnegie Mellon University’s Kiltie Band serves as both its concert and marching ensemble. The kilts they wear honor the Scottish heritage of Andrew Carnegie, the university’s founder. As of 2021, the band is led by Jeremy Olisar, a Kiltie and Carnegie Mellon graduate. Before him, music professor Paul Gerlach directed the group for 38 years. The band started in 1908 with just seven members; today it has over 130. Its first official performance took place on November 25, 1922, which would have been Andrew Carnegie’s 87th birthday. Until 1957, only men could join, but that year a female flutist changed things, and by 1961 eleven women were in the band. In the early 1990s, under Gerlach’s direction, a trumpeter named Ray Strobel arranged a piece from Monty Python and the Holy Grail called King Arthur’s Quest. This inspired a tradition: at every home football game, between the third and fourth quarters, a King rides the track on a quest for the Grail, accompanied by his horse, Patsy. The marching band, made up of musicians and color guard, performs at all home football games with a new show each week. After football season, the concert band puts on a holiday concert and two spring shows, including one at Spring Carnival. A smaller group also serves as a pep band for basketball games. Anyone from campus or the community can join without an audition, as long as they commit to attendance, attitude, and dependability.
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