Columbia University deans put on leave for text messages evoking ‘anti-Semitic tropes’
Three deans of Columbia University in New York have been removed from their positions over text messages that ‘disturbingly touched on ancient anti-Semitic tropes’.
Three Columbia University deans has been removed from their positions and placed on indefinite leave over text messages they sent during a panel about Jewish life on campus that “disturbingly touched on ancient anti-Semitic tropes”, according to the administration.
The university said on Monday US time the administrators from Columbia College, its undergraduate liberal-arts college, sent troubling text messages in May during a reunion weekend event forum called “Jewish Life on Campus: Past, Present, and Future’’. Columbia didn’t detail what the messages said.
“Whether intended as such or not, these sentiments are unacceptable and deeply upsetting, conveying a lack of seriousness about the concerns and the experiences of members of our Jewish community,” Columbia University president Minouche Shafik said.
Panellists discussed the campus climate since the Israel-Hamas war began and the responsibility of universities to ensure the safety of all students.
The text messages, which were first reported on by the conservative website the Washington Free Beacon, referenced anti-Semitic tropes about Jewish wealth and said Jewish students came from a place of privilege.
The Republican-led House of Representatives committee on education and the workforce obtained and released the texts last week as part of an investigation. “Hard to hear the woe is me,” one message said.
“Jewish students deserve better than to have harassment and threats against them dismissed as ‘privilege,’” said committee chair Representative Virginia Foxx.
The Columbia College administrators placed on leave were Susan Chang-Kim, the vice dean and chief administrative officer; Cristen Kromm, the dean of undergraduate student life; and Matthew Patashnick, the associate dean for student and family support.
Ms Chang-Kim couldn’t be reached for comment. Kromm and Patashnick didn’t immediately return requests for comment.
The university has been engulfed in controversy since protests began earlier this year over the Israel-Hamas war.
Pro-Palestinian protesters have called on the school to cut ties with corporations connected to Israel. Jewish students have reported an uptick in anti-Semitic episodes at school. Columbia, along with other schools, is under federal investigation about antisemitism on campus.
Columbia administrators have faced pressure over their response to the protests and anti-Semitism on campus.
More than 1200 people signed an open letter this month to Dr Shafik and Columbia’s board of trustees calling on the three deans who sent the texts to be removed from their posts.
The letter said Columbia College’s dean, Josef Sorett, was also involved in the exchange and should be terminated. Columbia said Sorett apologised.
Dr Shafik, who in Britain is Baroness Shafik, said Columbia was launching an anti-Semitism and antidiscrimination training program later this year.
The Wall Street Journal
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