The trio includes Susan Chang-Kim, the vice dean and chief administrative officer, Matthew Patashnick, the associate dean for student and family support, and Cristen Kromm, the dean of undergraduate student life.
As reported by Fox News, the resignations were triggered by a letter penned by President Dr. Minouche Shafik and Provost Angela Olinto on July 8. The letter, addressed to the campus community, detailed the university's response to the actions of these administrators, who were implicated in the text message exchanges on May 31. "I am writing today to update our campus community on the actions the University is taking following an incident in which senior administrators in Columbia College engaged in very troubling text message exchanges during a Reunion Weekend event entitled ‘Jewish Life on Campus: Past, Present, and Future,’" the letter stated.
Dr. Shafik further elaborated that the incident "revealed behavior and sentiments" that were "unprofessional" and "disturbingly touched on ancient antisemitic tropes." In response to this incident, Columbia University officials have announced plans to initiate a "vigorous program" of antisemitism and antidiscrimination training for faculty and staff in the upcoming fall semester.
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The three administrators, Chang-Kim, Patashnick, and Kromm, were "permanently removed" from their positions and had been on leave since June. The Washington Free Beacon initially reported that the trio had criticized an antisemitism panel on May 31 via a text message exchange. Patashnick allegedly commented that one of the panelists was trying "to take full advantage of this moment. Huge fundraising potential." Kromm reportedly texted vomiting emojis about a rabbi's op-ed and wrote, "Amazing what $$$$ can do," according to the Free Beacon.
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Chang-Kim, on the other hand, suggested that Jewish students expressing concerns about antisemitism were doing so from "such a place of privilege." These text messages eventually caught the attention of Congress, which has been probing antisemitism on college campuses.
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Columbia University, along with several other U.S. universities, has been the epicenter of protests in the wake of the Gaza conflict. The intensity of the protests at Columbia escalated to such an extent that police had to intervene, leading to the eviction of students from Hamilton Hall. This incident marked a low point for the prestigious institution. Last month, five Columbia students and graduates initiated a class-action lawsuit against the organizers and supporters of the anti-Israel encampments.
