Three Columbia University deans who sent derogatory text messages described by the school president as touching on “ancient antisemitic tropes” have resigned from their positions.
The texts, exchanged during an event titled “Jewish Life on Campus: Past, Present, and Future” in May, were reportedly reacting to Jewish speakers sharing their concerns about antisemitism on campus.
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 placed on indefinite leave in July by university President Minouche Shafik while the school commenced an investigation into the incident.
According to The Washington Free Beacon, which publicised the text exchange in June after an attendee of the event shared photos of one of the dean’s cellphones, Chang-Kim sent a message to her colleagues saying, “I’m going to throw up," roughly an hour into the panel. The timing aligned with remarks from an audience member and daughter of a Holocaust survivor who described how her own daughter, a Columbia student, “was hiding in plain sight” on campus following the October 7 attacks.
“Amazing what $$$$ can do," replied Kromm.
Patashnick said Jewish students “will have their own dorm soon” after the head of Columbia Hillel, Brian Cohen, noted that many Jews felt more comfortable spending time at the Kraft Center he runs than in their own dormitories.
"Comes from such a place of privilege," Chang-Kim wrote back. “Trying to be open minded to understand but the doors are closing.”
The deans also mocked Cohen’s efforts to provide support services to Jewish and Israeli students, implying that they were receiving special treatment not afforded to other groups on campus.
"Not all heroes wear capes," Patashnick texted sarcastically. "If only every identity community had these resources and support," Kromm replied.
In a statement to the Columbia community last month, Shafik condemned the messages, saying they were “not only unprofessional, but also, disturbingly touched on ancient antisemitic tropes. 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 that is antithetical to our University’s values and the standards we must uphold in our community.”
The messages were sent in the weeks after large-scale pro-Palestine protests erupted at the New York City campus, making international headlines and inspiring dozens of similar demonstrations on campuses across the US. Shafik herself faced calls for resignation in May over her administration’s handling of the protests and a lack of response to Jewish students’ complaints of campus antisemitism.
