Three Columbia University deans have been suspended after being caught exchanging shocking text messages during a panel on anti-Semitism.
Footage captured by an attendee showed Susan Chang-Kim, Matthew Patashnick and Cristen Kromm spewing disparaging texts about the conference on hostility directed at Jews on campus on May 31.
As speakers discussed the rise in anti-Jewish sentiment following the October 7 Hamas terrorist attacks, deans sent each other vomiting emojis and inferred that the speakers were only there for the event’s “fundraising potential.”
In an apology to the Columbia Board of Visitors, the dean of the University’s Columbia College, Josef Sorett, who was also part of the texts but has not been disciplined, said that the texts “do not indicate the opinions of any individual or the equipment”.
Sorett’s apology also criticized alumni members of the public who viewed the texts over the shoulder of Chang-Kim, who he said was guilty of an “invasion of privacy.”
Three Columbia University deans have been suspended after being caught exchanging shocking text messages during a panel on anti-Semitism, including sending vomiting emojis.
The appearance of the texts has sparked outrage on the campus, which was rocked by months of anti-Israel protests in the wake of its war with Hamas.
To address the crisis, Columbia organized the event to bring together several voices on Jewish life at the institution, including Brian Cohen, executive director of Columbia’s Kraft Center for Jewish Life, and former Columbia Law School dean David Schizer. , co-chair of the elite school’s anti-Semitism task force.
Speakers also included a Jewish student who broke down in tears as she described her sophomore daughter’s experience on campus.
But as they spoke, the three deans belittled their efforts, in text messages first reported by the Washington Free Beacon.
In one set of texts, Kromm showed his distaste for a 2023 Spectator op-ed titled ‘Sounding the Alarm,’ written by Columbia campus rabbi Yonah Hain, by referencing the article with vomiting emojis.
When the mother burst into tears, he joked, “And we thought Yonah had raised the alarm.”
“This panel is really making the administration look like a joker,” another text read.
In one exchange, the deans questioned the motivations of the Jewish speakers at the event, noting that it had “enormous fundraising potential.”
Administrators also dismissed stories from Jewish speakers about the student population’s experiences of anti-Semitism, questioning whether any had been expelled from clubs based exclusively on their religion.
“This panel really makes the administration look like a joker,” another text read.
The deans were also caught suggesting that the speakers had motives other than raising awareness about anti-Semitism on campus and were exploiting the situation for their own benefit.
‘He knows exactly what he’s doing and how to make the most of this moment. “Huge fundraising potential,” he texted Chang-Kim Pataschnick, associate dean for student and family support.
“Double urgency,” Chang-Kim responded.
Administrators also cast doubt on Jewish speakers’ stories about experiences of anti-Semitism among the student population.
Schizer told the audience that he was dismayed by how “you can be a college student who (wants to join a club) … and suddenly discover that you are actually a Zionist and proud of your ties.” with Israel, which either explicitly expels you or you are simply not welcome.
“And in my opinion, that is absolutely unacceptable.”
‘Did they really expel students from clubs for being Jewish?’ Chang-Kim questioned, to which Pataschnick said, “To my knowledge, no one was actively expelled.”
The appearance of the texts has sparked outrage on the campus, which was rocked by months of anti-Israel protests in the wake of its war with Hamas.
After the text messages sparked a backlash on campus, Sorett apologized in an email to the Board of Visitors for the “harm” the exchanges caused.
He insisted that the comments “do not indicate the opinions of any individual or the team” and “reiterated his commitment to learning from this situation and other incidents over the past year to build a community of respect and healthy dialogue.”
A Columbia spokesperson added to the New York Post: “We are committed to combating anti-Semitism and taking sustained, concrete action to ensure that Columbia is a campus where Jewish students and all members of our community feel safe, valued, and able to thrive.”
After the exhibition of the texts, Columbia University placed the three deans on leave.
“The dean of Columbia College informed his staff today that three administrators have been placed on leave pending a university investigation into the incident that occurred at the College’s alumni reunion several weeks ago,” the college told the Washington Free Beacon. .
Sorett added to the outlet that after his own participation in the texts, he “reiterated his commitment to learning from this situation and other incidents over the last year to build a community of respect and healthy dialogue.”
