May 16, 2025 | 18 Iyar 5785
Candlelighting 8:13 p.m. | Havdalah 9:19 p.m. | Vol. 68, No. 20 | pittsburghjewishchronicle.org
CMU graduation marred by anti-Zionist, anti-Hindu messaging on the Fence
NOTEWORTHY LOCAL College decisions
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After the storm, Phillips Place residents left in the dark
Questions for students and parents LOCAL
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Addressing food insecurity One day after the April 29 storm, a fallen tree rests on a car in Squirrel Hill.
Photo by Adam Reinherz
By Adam Reinherz | Senior Staff Writer
Julie Paris is one member of the Pittsburgh Jewish community who posted online about anti-Zionist, anti-Hindu messages painted on CMU's Fence. Screenshot by David Rullo
Our Giving Kitchen expands
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LOCAL International collaboration
A Pittsburgh-Israel tech partnership
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FOOD Who wants chicken?
Apricot glazed chicken
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By David Rullo | Senior Staff Writer
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arnegie Mellon University’s Fence was once again used to deliver an anti-Israel message. The phrases “Down with Nazism, Zionism, Hindutva,” “End the capitalist empire,” and “Defend Sudan, Palestine, Kashmir and W. Sudan” were painted on the university landmark the Saturday of the university's commencement weekend. The message was not the Fence’s first blush with anti-Zionist or antisemitic messages, but it was the first time Nazim, Zionism and Hindutva, a form of Hindu-nationalism, were conflated into one message. In October 2023, just days after Hamas’ terrorist attack in Israel that killed more than 1,200 people, the messages “76 years of occupation,” and “Free Palestine,” were painted on the Fence. At the time, a university spokesperson told the Chronicle that the Fence is “student governed,” with rules applied by the Student Government Graffiti and Poster Policy. Students are allowed to paint messages on the Fence, he explained, between midnight and 4 a.m. As long as students stand guard during those hours, no one is allowed to paint a new message until the following day.
CMU’s website is unclear if there are any restrictions on the messages painted on the fence but Cassie Crogan, interim director of media relations for the university, said that the Fence has long served as a medium of student expression and is a physical manifestation of its commitment to upholding and exercising free speech on our campus. “Even so,” she said, “the message displayed was deeply disappointing and upsetting.” The university, Crogan noted, “remains committed to building bridges of understanding so that all students learn how their words and actions affect others and how we can work together to foster an inclusive community.” Social media reaction to the posts was immediate with both pro and con messages. The Instagram account “cmufence,” which features pictures of the various messages painted, had nearly 500 comments, with the majority of those speaking out against the messaging. On Facebook the reaction was more varied, where many on the far-left expressed support of the messaging. Chad Collins, a pastor at Valley View Presbyterian Church, wrote “beautiful,” on one person’s post. Please see The Fence, page 4
Estate Planning & Planned Giving coming May 23
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he world was created in six days. Bringing power to Phillips Place takes a bit longer. Following an April 29 storm, nearly 300,000 Pittsburghers lost electricity. As of May 7, more than 3,000 households remained in the dark. Residents living in a cluster of 27 homes on and around Phillips Place in Squirrel Hill were repeatedly told their power will be restored. Updates, which remained similar for nearly a week, were conveyed via an outage map on Duquesne Light’s website. “If you go on the website, it just says the same darn thing, which is ‘awaiting dispatch,’” Rabbi Andy Shugerman said. Speaking with the Chronicle by phone on May 6, Shugerman said the outage map lacked clarity. “For as long as the information has been up on the website, it’s simply said ‘estimated time of restoration is tonight.’” Shugerman, 47, is part of a street-wide text thread where details, frustration and sympathy are shared. Several neighbors, who remained in their houses, described sightings of Duquesne Light workers. Reading from the thread, Shugerman said he heard “some folks came by today, but they literally just looked at the tree that’s dead, that fell down on the house next to mine, and saw that it’s challenging.” Please see Storm, page 10 Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels