Columbia University Deans Resign Following Scandal Over Antisemitic Texts

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Three deans have resigned after a series of disparaging text messages exchanged during a campus forum on Jewish issues came to light. The texts, which university President Nemat Shafik condemned as touching upon "ancient antisemitic tropes," have not only caused embarrassment for the administration but have also raised serious questions about the university's commitment to addressing antisemitism.

 

The controversy began during a two-hour event held in May that focused on the concerns of Jewish students regarding antisemitism on campus. As Jewish speakers expressed their worries, three deans responsible for undergraduate student affairs engaged in a private exchange of sarcastic and biting text messages. One of the deans suggested that a Jewish speaker was exaggerating concerns for fundraising purposes, while another sent vomit emojis in response to a mention of a college newspaper opinion piece written by one of the university's rabbis. These messages, which became public in June after an attendee shared photos of one dean's cellphone with *The Washington Free Beacon*, have led to an outcry from the university community and beyond.

 

In June, President Shafik placed the three deans on indefinite leave pending an investigation into the incident. On Thursday, Columbia spokeswoman Samantha Slater confirmed that the deans had resigned, though she did not provide additional details. The resignation of the deans, who were not faculty members and did not have tenure protections, marks a significant moment in the university's ongoing efforts to address antisemitism on campus.

 

The scandal, which has been dubbed "textgate" by some alumni, has created a public relations nightmare for Columbia as it seeks to reassure Congress, alumni, and Jewish students that it takes antisemitism seriously. The timing of the scandal is particularly sensitive, as the university anticipates another wave of pro-Palestinian activism in the fall. This activism has already resulted in troubling incidents, such as the recent vandalism of the Brooklyn Heights apartment building of Cas Holloway, the university's chief operating officer. Early Thursday morning, four individuals splashed red paint on the floor, released insects into the lobby, and plastered posters outside the building depicting Holloway with devil ears and behind bars. The posters also accused him of signing off on police brutality and hinted at a potential expulsion of protesters. The police are investigating the incident, but no arrests have been made.

 

In response to these challenges, President Shafik announced in July a series of new initiatives aimed at improving the university's handling of protests and community dialogues. These include a new mediation process for issues involving protesters, as well as a review of the university's protest rules. Additionally, there have been discussions about potentially granting some campus police officers the power to make arrests, a move that would align Columbia with other universities. However, this proposal has not yet been formally presented to the University Senate, which would typically be consulted before such a significant change is implemented.

 

James Applegate, an astronomy professor and member of the executive committee of the University Senate, highlighted the limitations of the current system. "Columbia has public safety, but basically they can’t physically confront anybody," Applegate said. "So Columbia’s options are, for all intents and purposes, ask politely or go nuclear by calling in the New York Police Department." The ongoing debate over how to best handle campus security and protests underscores the complex challenges facing the university as it navigates a highly polarized environment.

 

The three deans who resigned—Susan Chang-Kim, the college’s 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—were not faculty members, and thus did not enjoy the tenure protections that might have shielded them from termination. Their resignations followed a July note from President Shafik to the Columbia community, in which she described the sentiments expressed in the text messages as "unacceptable and deeply upsetting, conveying a lack of seriousness about the concerns and the experiences of members of our Jewish community."

 

She further noted that the messages "disturbingly touched on ancient antisemitic tropes" and were "antithetical to our university’s values."

The incident occurred on May 31, following a series of student protests that had led to mass arrests on Columbia's campus earlier in the spring. The university hosted a panel discussion titled "Jewish Life on Campus: Past, Present and Future," which featured speakers such as Brian Cohen, the executive director of Columbia/Barnard Hillel, and David Schizer, the former dean of the law school and chair of the university's antisemitism task force. The three administrators, along with Josef Sorett, the dean of Columbia College, were in the audience.

 

A person seated behind Chang-Kim photographed the text messages she was exchanging with her colleagues. A transcript of these exchanges was later released by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, which has been investigating antisemitism on college campuses.

 

Josef Sorett, who also participated in the text exchanges, albeit to a lesser extent, remains at the university due to his tenure protections. After the incident, Sorett issued an apology to the community, stating, "I am deeply sorry that this happened in a community that I lead and, that I was part of any of the exchanges." His apology, however, has not quelled the calls for his removal. A petition signed by more than 2,000 students, alumni, and parents has demanded that Sorett be removed from his position for his involvement in the scandal. One of the more controversial moments in the text exchanges occurred when Chang-Kim referred to Brian Cohen, the Hillel director, as "our hero," to which Sorett responded with "LMAO" (laughing my ass off).

 

The incident has had a profound impact on Jewish students at Columbia, many of whom were already concerned about the university's handling of anti-Israel protests on campus. Elisha Baker, a rising junior and leader of Aryeh, a pro-Israel campus group, expressed her dismay: "I had already understood that they didn’t take our concerns seriously, but the overt disdain was really upsetting. It totally delegitimized the strategy of listening sessions. Not only did they not hear us, they saw our speaking as some sort of privilege."

 

As Columbia University continues to grapple with the fallout from this scandal, it faces the daunting task of rebuilding trust with its Jewish community while navigating the complexities of free speech, protest, and security on campus. The resignations of the three deans may offer some measure of accountability, but the broader questions about the university's commitment to combating antisemitism and fostering an inclusive environment remain unanswered. The upcoming academic year will undoubtedly test Columbia's ability to address these challenges head-on.

 

Credit: NYT  2024-08-10

 

 

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[herfiehandbag]

4 hours ago, Social Media said:

four individuals splashed red paint on the floor, released insects into the lobby,

Releasing insects seems appropriate, given that these poisonous anti semitic creatures favoured dwelling places are damp, dark places under large flat stones!

[koolkarl]

Even educated people are extremely ignorant of what is in store for them eventually if they are non believers in Islam or infidels.

[Oliver Holzerfilled]

Meet Matthew Patashnick, the FORMER associate dean for student and family support.  Shocked, shocked I tell you!

 

 

[herfiehandbag]

21 minutes ago, Oliver Holzerfilled said:

Meet Matthew Patashnick, the FORMER associate dean for student and family support.  Shocked, shocked I tell you!

 

 

Are you suggesting that his vile views are shared by the current Democrat candidates, (a magnificent feat of projection of which you must be proud) or is this a criticism of his (out of date) sartorial style?