Columbia says 3 deans resign over 'anti-Semitic tropes' in texts

Three Columbia University deans, who engaged in what the school’s administration called troubling text message exchanges that touched on “ancient anti-Semitic tropes”, have resigned, a university spokesperson said late yesterday according to Reuters.

Cristen Kromm, former dean of undergraduate student life; Matthew Patashnick, former associate dean for student and family support; and Susan Chang-Kim, former vice dean and chief administrative officer, had been placed on leave as an investigation proceeded.

The message exchanges took place during an event on campus titled “Jewish Life on Campus: Past, Present, and Future” and followed weeks of protests at Columbia and other campuses around the country over Israel’s war on Gaza, the university administration said in July.

“This incident revealed behaviour and sentiments that were not only unprofessional, but also, disturbingly touched on ancient antisemitic tropes,” the university said in July.

The three deans who resigned could not be contacted. The university spokesperson who confirmed their resignation did not provide further details.

Columbia became a centre of protests where students set up encampments, calling for an end to Israel’s genocide and their university’s ties to the occupation state, and police made violent arrests.

Israel’s assault on Gaza has led to genocide allegations at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). More than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in the enclave since October and over 90,000 injured, while the Strip has been left in ruins and is besieged with the entry of water, food and medicines being limited by occupation forces leading to a “man-made famine”.

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