A New York City police officer watches over the center of Columbia University before a large graduation ceremony in May, following weeks of pro-Palestinian protests.
Seth Wenig/AP
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Seth Wenig/AP
Three deans at Columbia University have lost their jobs over what the university called disturbing texts that “involved archaic anti-Semitic tropes.” Columbia said the three individuals will be placed on indefinite leave and will not return to their previous positions.
The three texted each other during a group discussion about Jewish life at the school last May, mocking and belittling student complaints about anti-Semitism. The messages were recently released by a congressional committee investigating anti-Semitism in Columbia, and first reported by The Washington Free Beacon, a conservative website.
Susan Chang-Kim, the former vice chancellor and chief administrative officer, dismissed the students’ complaints, texting that they “came from a place of extreme privilege… it was hard to hear my pain.”
Cristen Kromm, the former dean of undergraduate student life, texted a vomiting emoji and wrote, “It’s amazing what $$$$ can do.” Matthew Patashnick, the former associate dean of student and family support, said Jews on campus are just trying to “make the most of this moment. The fundraising potential is huge.”
Columbia President Minouche Shafik condemned their comments as “unacceptable and deeply saddening, demonstrating a lack of seriousness about the concerns and experiences of the Jewish community, which is contrary to the values of the university.”
Indeed, students called these things particularly disturbing and hurtful, coming from the very people who are supposed to respond to concerns about student life.
“These three people are completely unqualified to hold leadership positions in higher education,” said Elisha Baker, a junior at Columbia. “It is unconscionable that [they] dismissive and unconcerned about Jewish students’ experiences of anti-Semitism, and even worse, showing utter contempt for the Jewish community.”
A fourth dean, Columbia College Dean Josef Sorett, was also involved in the texting, but he apologized for his role last month and will remain in his job. He wrote to students on Monday, saying he was “deeply sorry” that the incident occurred in a community where he was “responsible for setting the culture and tone of the staff.” He vowed to do “the work of healing, repairing, and rebuilding trust and accountability,” noting that “while not intended to be so, some of the text messages exchanged may have been reminiscent of anti-Semitic tropes.”
Baker called Sorett’s expression “sad.”
“I am struggling to understand why our administrators still find it so difficult to clearly condemn anti-Semitism,” Baker said. “The administration must commit to […] to establish clear ethical standards and expectations regarding the treatment of Jews on campus.”
The three dismissed deans did not respond to requests for comment.
On Monday, Columbia also announced a new and “robust” anti-Semitism and anti-discrimination training program for faculty, staff and students starting this fall.
David Schizer, a former law school dean and chairman of Columbia’s anti-Semitism task force, called it “a good start.” Columbia “has real problems,” said Schizer, who also attended the Jewish life panel the three deans texted.
“This requires an ‘all hands on deck’ approach,” he said. “We need to change our culture.”
Columbia University has been criticized since the Israel-Hamas war broke out, with a professor praising the October 7 attack as “fantastic” and pro-Palestinian student groups condemning the university for what they see as its support for Israel while ignoring the suffering of Palestinians and criticizing presidents they say “mask the Palestinian resistance as ‘terrorism’.”
As pro-Palestinian protests escalate at Columbia and Jewish students complain about an increasingly hostile environment, the university is facing increasing pressure from students, alumni and Congress over its handling of the situation. Columbia is now one of several schools facing a federal investigation.
