Three Columbia University Deans Quit After Exchanging Anti-Semitic Texts

Three Columbia University deans resigned on August 8 after exchanging anti-Semitic text messages during an event to raise awareness of prejudice against Jews on campus back in May.

The House Committee on Education and the Workforce released the text messages to the public shortly after the event, prompting Columbia University president Minouche Shafik to place the three deans on indefinite leave.

The former deans are:

• Susan Chang-Kim, vice dean and chief administrative officer
• Cristen Kromm, dean of undergraduate student life
• Matthew Patashnick, associate dean for student and family support

Texts: During a May 31 forum titled “Jewish Life on Campus: Past, Present and Future,” the three senior staff members mocked a discussion about anti-Semitism on campus.

“Comes from such a place of privilege,” Chang-Kim texted. “Hard to hear the woe is me, we need to huddle at the Kraft Center,” referring to how Jewish students had to seek refuge in the center during pro-Hamas protests in April.

“Yup. Blind to the idea that non-Israel supporting Jews have no space to come together,” Kromm responded. “Amazing what $$$$ can do.”

As Jewish student Brian Cohen raised concerns about the growing aggression against Jewish students since October 7, Patashnick wrote, “He knows exactly what he’s doing and has to take full advantage of this moment. Huge fundraising potential.”

“He is such a problem!” Chang-Kim wrote.

The deans also sent vomit emojis during the forum and sarcastically called Cohen “our hero.”

Quitting: Last Thursday, the three deans quit. A fourth dean, Josef Sorett, also took part in the exchange but formally apologized and has not resigned.

Rep. Virginia Foxx, chairwoman of the House committee who has been leading an investigation into Jew-hatred on campus, said the exchange proved Columbia’s problem with anti-Semitism stems from its leadership.

Jewish students deserve better than to have harassment and threats against them dismissed as “privilege,” and Jewish faculty members deserve better than to be mocked by their colleagues. These text messages once again confirm the need for serious accountability across Columbia’s campus.
—Virginia Foxx

To understand how and why anti-Semitism has infiltrated America’s elite colleges, read “The Sickness in American Universities.”