Three administrators at Columbia College have been permanently removed from their roles and are currently on leave due to texts they exchanged during an on-campus event about Jewish life. Columbia University President Minouche Shafik announced this on Monday.
The incident occurred during the school’s reunion weekend at the end of May. The event, titled “Jewish Life on Campus: Past, Present and Future,” took place a month after police were called in by university leaders to remove pro-Palestinian protesters from an occupied administration building and dismantle a tent encampment that could disrupt graduation ceremonies.
The administrators involved are Cristen Kromm, the dean of undergraduate student life; Matthew Patashnick, the associate dean for student and family support; and Susan Chang-Kim, the vice dean and chief administrative officer. They were placed on leave in June after their text messages were made public by the Washington Free Beacon.
In one exchange, Patashnick commented on a Jewish speaker discussing antisemitism, implying financial gain from the situation. Kromm responded to a student’s fear during protests by suggesting money influenced comfort at a campus center.
Despite these actions, Columbia College Dean Josef Sorett will remain in his position after apologizing and committing to address the impact of the texts. Columbia Provost Angela Olinto stated that Sorett and his team must make tangible progress in fighting antisemitism and discrimination.
In response to the controversy, Shafik emphasized that the comments referenced antisemitic stereotypes, whether intentionally or not, and vowed to implement antisemitism training for faculty, staff, and students.
The incident has stirred deep concern and calls for change within Columbia’s community, particularly among its Jewish members.