Three Columbia University administrators have been removed from their positions following the revelation of text messages that “disturbingly touched on ancient antisemitic tropes,” according to a letter from university officials. This incident has placed Columbia University under intense scrutiny, especially given its recent role as a focal point for nationwide protests on college campuses over the Israel-Hamas conflict. The university is also under investigation for alleged antisemitic and anti-Palestinian discrimination.
The administrators were held accountable for their involvement in “very troubling text message exchanges” during a May event focused on Jewish life on campus. These exchanges led to their permanent removal from their positions and placement on leave. One of the text messages included “vomit emojis” to describe an op-ed about antisemitism by Columbia’s campus rabbi, as reported by the Free Beacon last month.
The House Committee on Education and the Workforce recently released copies of these text exchanges as part of its ongoing investigation into antisemitism. The individuals involved were publicly identified as Cristen Kromm, former dean of undergraduate student life; Matthew Patashnick, former associate dean for student and family support; and Susan Chang-Kim, former vice dean and chief administrative officer. One of the messages stated, “Amazing what $$$$ can do,” in reference to the campus rabbi’s op-ed.
Kromm and Patashnick did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and Chang-Kim could not be reached for comment. Notably, Josef Sorett, dean of Columbia College, was also involved in the text exchange but was not placed on leave. University provost Angela Olinto stated that Sorett has apologized and taken full responsibility. “Dean Sorett and I will work together to mend relationships, repair trust, and rebuild accountability,” Olinto wrote in a letter to the campus community.
More than 1,440 members of the Columbia community have signed a petition calling for Sorett’s removal, arguing that he and the three others “are not fit to serve as deans of Columbia College and should be removed from their positions immediately.”
“This incident revealed behavior and sentiments that were not only unprofessional but also disturbingly touched on ancient antisemitic tropes,” said university president Minouche Shafik in a statement. “Whether intended as such or not, these sentiments are unacceptable and deeply upsetting, conveying a lack of seriousness about the concerns and experiences of members of our Jewish community that is antithetical to our University’s values and the standards we must uphold in our community.”
Sorett expressed his regret in an online message to students, stating that the “entire incident was contrary to the values” of the university. “While not intended as such, some of the text messages exchanged may call to mind antisemitic tropes,” he continued. “Any language that demeans members of our community, or divides us from one another, is simply unacceptable. I am deeply sorry that this happened in a community that I lead and that I was part of any of the exchanges, and I pledge to spearhead the change we need to ensure this never happens again.”
Sorett added, “I continue to learn from this experience and understand the impact that my texts, as well as those between my staff, have had on our community.”
The New York Post reported that the three administrators on leave are Susan Chang-Kim, Matthew Patashnick, and Cristen Kromm. This fall, Columbia University plans to launch a “vigorous program of antisemitism and antidiscrimination” training for staff and students. This initiative follows a “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” staged by pro-Palestinian students at Columbia University in April, which led to numerous arrests and suspensions.
Columbia President Minouche Shafik denounced the comments as “unacceptable and deeply upsetting, conveying a lack of seriousness about the concerns of and the experiences of our Jewish community that is antithetical to our University’s values.” Students found the comments especially disturbing and hurtful, given that they came from individuals responsible for addressing student life concerns.
“It’s incredibly ironic and acutely painful that someone tasked with ensuring student and family success holds such deeply, deeply antisemitic bias,” said Columbia senior Eden Yadegar. She mentioned that she had previously brought formal complaints to the deans’ office but never received the response or resolution she hoped for. “It feels like we have been knocking on a door that wouldn’t open and now we know why,” Yadegar said. She is among a group of students who recently filed a lawsuit accusing Columbia of discriminatory behavior against Jewish students.
“These three are totally unfit to hold positions of leadership in higher education,” said junior Elisha Baker, another Jewish student at Columbia. “It is unconscionable that [they] dismissed and disregarded Jewish students’ experiences of antisemitism, and, even worse, displayed utter disdain for the Jewish community.”
A fourth dean, Columbia College Dean Josef Sorett, also involved in the text stream, apologized for his role last month and will keep his job. He wrote to students on Monday, saying he is “deeply sorry” this happened in a community where he is “responsible for setting the culture and tone of the staff.” He vowed to do “the work of healing and repair and rebuilding of trust and accountability,” noting that “while not intended as such, some of the text messages exchanged may call to mind antisemitic tropes.”
Baker called Sorett’s phrasing “sad.” “I’m struggling to understand why it is still so hard for our administrators to unequivocally call out antisemitism,” Baker said. “The administration must commit to setting morally clear standards and expectations regarding the treatment of Jews on campus.”
The three deans who were removed did not respond to requests for comment. Columbia also announced new and “vigorous” antisemitism and anti-discrimination training for faculty, staff, and students beginning this fall. David Schizer, a former dean of the law school and a chair of Columbia’s antisemitism task force, called that “a good start.” Columbia has “real problems,” said Schizer, who was also on the panel about Jewish life that the three deans were texting about. “This requires an ‘all-hands-on-deck’ approach,” he said. “We need to change our culture.”
Columbia has been under fire since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, when pro-Palestinian student groups such as Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine denounced the university for supporting Israel while ignoring Palestinian suffering. They criticized deans who they said “obfuscated Palestinian resistance as ‘terrorism.'”
As pro-Palestinian protests intensified at Columbia and as some Jewish students complained of an increasingly hostile environment, the university faced growing pressure from students, alumni, and Congress about their handling of it all. Columbia is currently among many schools now facing federal investigation.
Source: Axios, The New York Post, The Washington Free Beacon
