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Three Columbia University administrators have “been permanently removed from their positions” after sending a series of derisive text messages during a panel on campus Jewish life, the university’s provost announced Monday.
“This incident revealed behavior and sentiments that were not only unprofessional, but also, disturbingly touched on ancient antisemitic tropes,”
In an accompanying letter, Columbia President Minouche Shafik wrote that the texts echoed antisemitism and vowed to start a “vigorous program of antisemitism and antidiscrimination training” in the fall, when classes reconvene.
“This incident revealed behavior and sentiments that were not only unprofessional, but also, disturbingly touched on ancient antisemitic tropes,” Shafik said in an email to the campus community on Monday morning. “These sentiments are unacceptable and deeply upsetting, conveying a lack of seriousness about the concerns and the experiences of members of our Jewish community.”
A fourth dean who was involved in one of the text exchanges apologized and likewise acknowledged that the conversations “call to mind antisemitic tropes.”
The text messages — sent during the panel at the end of May and first reported last month — downplayed accounts of campus antisemitism and suggested that a Hillel official was leveraging them for fundraising. They have drawn attention and condemnation from lawmakers and Jewish leaders, and renewed calls for action to combat antisemitism at the Ivy League university, which has seen raucous pro-Palestinian activism and a series of antisemitism allegations since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7.
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“This incident revealed behavior and sentiments that were not only unprofessional, but also, disturbingly touched on ancient antisemitic tropes,”
In an accompanying letter, Columbia President Minouche Shafik wrote that the texts echoed antisemitism and vowed to start a “vigorous program of antisemitism and antidiscrimination training” in the fall, when classes reconvene.
“This incident revealed behavior and sentiments that were not only unprofessional, but also, disturbingly touched on ancient antisemitic tropes,” Shafik said in an email to the campus community on Monday morning. “These sentiments are unacceptable and deeply upsetting, conveying a lack of seriousness about the concerns and the experiences of members of our Jewish community.”
A fourth dean who was involved in one of the text exchanges apologized and likewise acknowledged that the conversations “call to mind antisemitic tropes.”
The text messages — sent during the panel at the end of May and first reported last month — downplayed accounts of campus antisemitism and suggested that a Hillel official was leveraging them for fundraising. They have drawn attention and condemnation from lawmakers and Jewish leaders, and renewed calls for action to combat antisemitism at the Ivy League university, which has seen raucous pro-Palestinian activism and a series of antisemitism allegations since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7.
Columbia removes 3 deans over text exchange deriding concerns of campus antisemitism
University president acknowledges text messages were antisemitic, vows training on discrimination for faculty in response.
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