Columbia Removes Three Deans Who Exchanged Antisemitic Texts
“This incident revealed behavior and sentiments that were not only unprofessional, but also, disturbingly touched on ancient antisemitic tropes.”
Columbia University removed three deans who exchanged antisemitic texts during the panel “Jewish Life on Campus: Past, Present, and Future.”
“This incident revealed behavior and sentiments that were not only unprofessional, but also, disturbingly touched on ancient antisemitic tropes,” wrote President Minouche Shafik. “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.”
They are:
- Cristen Kromm, formerly the dean of undergraduate student life
- Matthew Patashnick, formerly the associate dean for student and family support
- Susan Chang-Kim, formerly the vice dean and chief administrative officer
Provost Angela Olinto said Josef Sorett, the dean of Columbia College, will stay in his post.
“Dean Sorett and I will work together to mend relationships, repair trust, and rebuild accountability,” explained Olinto. “This incident has confirmed yet again how much we must do together to ensure our community is one in which all members are treated with dignity, respect, and empathy, as well as one that effectively addresses antisemitism alongside all other forms of discrimination.”
I don’t know why Sorett kept his job. Over 1,000 people demanded all four deans lose their jobs.
When The Washington Free Beacon released the texts, Sorett released a statement without an apology: “I have already spoken to each person involved and we understand that, as leaders, we are held to a higher standard.”
Then Sorett called the leak “an invasion of privacy.”
The community lashed out at Sorett, who released a non-apology a week later: “I deeply regret my role in these text exchanges.”
The panel convened during Reunion Weekend not long after the anti-Israel protests happened at the school.
The administrators doubted the Jewish students felt unsafe or intimidated during the encampment:
The administrators expressed skepticism that Jewish students had experienced targeting or discrimination. As Massel, who published a news report in the Columbia Spectator about Jewish students who felt “ostracized,” was asked to dilate on “the experience of Jewish and Israeli students on campus,” Chang-Kim fired off a text to Kromm and Patashnick: “Did we really have students being kicked out of clubs for being Jewish?”
Kromm used the vomit emojis when the panel discussed an op-ed about “the normalization of Hamas” on campus.
Patashnick then accused a panelist of using the pro-Hamas crisis to raise money:
“He knows exactly what he’s doing and how to take full advantage of this moment,” Patashnick wrote to Chang-Kim and Kromm. “Huge fundraising potential.” Chang-Kim responded: “Double Urgh.”
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If during a campus event focusing on the Black Lives Matter movement, a group of college professors/administrators exchanged texts containing watermelon emojis, or the vomit emoji in response to black students expressing a fear of being on campus, would ANY of those professors/administrators keep their jobs? The double standard is obscene.
Only 3 got fired ?
Why did take so long to fire just three?
From CNN: ‘A Columbia spokesperson told CNN that all three officials are still employed by the university.’ So, no one has been fired (yet), just placed ‘on leave’ and ‘permanently removed from their positions (as deans).’ It’s unclear if the three offenders are on paid leave (many observers believe they almost certainly are). Whether this will end with the termination of the employees is currently unknown.
My guess is they all have Golden Umbrella clauses in their contracts.
That’s what I figured when I saw the story that said they were “removed”. Not “fired” or “terminated”. CU is probably hoping to just wait this out and later reinstate them when no one is paying attention.
They pull this all the time. They “remove them from their position” and then 6 months later put them right back in the same position without announcing it.
They have haven’t even been fired. They were removed from their positions and are on indefinite suspension. They are still employed by Columbia and can be placed in other positions once Columbia thinks the fuss has died down.
all 3 claimed they love the je ws but hate israel
Of course they love Jews – baked, broiled or deep fried.
msm/american schools
and you still say the na zis are right wing!!
stop the lefty narrative
maga
Apparently you’re unfamiliar with the horseshoe model.
but here are what (some) students are doing
MALVERN, Pa. — In February, Patrice Motz, a veteran Spanish teacher at Great Valley Middle School in Malvern, Pennsylvania, was warned by another teacher that trouble was brewing.
Some eighth graders at her public school had set up TikTok accounts impersonating teachers. Motz, who had never used TikTok, created an account.
She found a fake profile for @patrice.motz, which had posted a real photo of her at the beach with her husband and their young children. “Do you like to touch kids?” a text in Spanish over the family vacation photo asked. “Answer: Sí.”
They did not get fired…they are on indefinite leave.
Washington Free Beacon is reporting they have NOT been fired; “will be reasssigned.” IOW, no consequences.
Columbia’s spin on this is complete garbage. But fortunately, it’s gonna be great evidence in the lawsuits. . . . . .
Ok. That’s a good start. Now do all the ivy league elites who vomited anti-white rhetoric for years…
(Unknowingly) said the lefty quiet part out loud
So this is what it takes to get a slap on the wrist.
There is a simple litmus test to tell whether words or actions should be considered antisemitic: substitute “Jew” or “Zionist” or “Israel” with “black” or “Muslim” and if action would have been taken had either of those two groups been the victim or the target.
This Jew, at least, doesn’t give a flying **** about “antisemitic tropes”. I have only a vague notion what those even are. What I care about is actual objective antisemitism. Which is what we have here.
MTG, for instance, has apparently used “antisemitic tropes”. I don’t care. I’m not a fan of hers, but as far as I know she is not an antisemite, so as far as I’m concerned she’s welcome to use all the tropes she wants.
Why is nobody writing about the reason that Sorett was not removed? As Dean of Columbia College he is boss of the other deans and therefore should be held more responsible. It seems that the reason he was not removed is that he is professor of African American Studies and is black.