# 2024-05-31 Textgate - Deans text during the Jewish Life panel

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# Metadata

* **When:** 2024-05-31
* **Where:** Columbia University
* **Who:** Josef Sorrett, Susan Chang-Kim, Cristen Kromm, Matthew Patashnick
* **Organizations:** 
* **Tags:** [tagFaculty](/doc/8f551269-6fa6-4e88-b515-30aa0f7510a4) 

# Description


:::info
**Additional evidence:** [folder](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1zIWJWfXEySFoGaeefQ_aqWG30v9FO_f6?usp=drive_link)

:::

This incident is based primarily on the information reported in the media.

On May 31, 2024 Columbia University  hosted alumni weekend, which included a panel discussion on Jewish life on campus. 

The attendees included several administrators:

* Josef Sorett: Dean of Columbia College
* Susan Chang-Kim: Vice Dean and Chief Administrative Officer of Columbia College
* Cristen Kromm: Dean of Undergraduate student Life
* Matthew Patashnick: Associate Dean for Student and Family Support.

An attendee [__captured__](https://freebeacon.com/campus/i-took-pictures-of-a-columbia-deans-phone-heres-why/) photos of text [__messages__](https://freebeacon.com/campus/columbia-administrators-fire-off-hostile-and-dismissive-text-messages-vomit-emojis-during-alumni-reunion-panel-on-jewish-life/) between Chang-Kim and Sorett and between Chang-Kim, Patashnick, and Kromm.

The immature, dismissive, and hostile tone of the messages suggests that the administrators fail to understand the gravity of the antisemitic climate on campus.

Kromm used vomit emojis to describe an op-ed about anti-Semitism by Columbia's campus rabbi written in October.

Chang-Kim asked Kromm and Patashnick if “we really have students being kicked out of clubs for being Jewish?"

In the most despicable exchange that plays into antisemitic trope of the “greedy Jew,” Patashnick accused a panelist–most likely Brian Cohen of Columbia Hillel–of taking advantage of Columbia's campus antisemitism for fundraising. Patashnick wrote, “he knows exactly what he’s doing and how to take full advantage of this moment. Huge fundraising potential.”

After the texts were made [__public__](https://freebeacon.com/campus/columbia-administrators-fire-off-hostile-and-dismissive-text-messages-vomit-emojis-during-alumni-reunion-panel-on-jewish-life/) Dean Josef Sorett issued a private apology for the text messages he and other administrators exchanged badmouthing panelists. In his [__letter__](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zFLFBGdQv6s200r2nfie_oxKnqbzys_6/view?usp=drive_link) wrote that the dismissive and vitriolic remarks do not "indicate the views of any individual or the team." Sorett then announced that three of his colleagues have been placed on leave pending an investigation into their text exchanges, which Congress has [__demanded__](https://edworkforce.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=411705) they turn over. 

While the scandal landed Chang-Kim, Patashnick, and Kromm on leave as Columbia investigates the incident, Sorett was not included in the disciplinary move. Sorett had not [__acknowledged__](https://freebeacon.com/campus/lmao-dean-of-columbia-college-mocked-hillel-head-in-newly-obtained-text-exchange/) his own role in the scandal, something he did for the first time in an email sent Friday, June 21, 2024, afternoon to Columbia University’s Board of Visitors, an alumni body that advises the dean. A Columbia spokesman said Friday that Sorett "will be recused from all matters relating to the investigation while continuing to serve as dean of the College."

**Columbia’s administration continues to minimize the antisemitic climate by failing to heed to the warning signs and gaslighting those calling out the issues. They even play into the antisemitic trope that Jews are attempting to capitalize on societal issues to better themselves. When the administrators–the proverbial “adults in the room”–reveal shocking callousness towards Jewish concerns when they don’t feel the need to censor themselves for public consumption, it is not surprising that the university took no disciplinary actions against faculty who continues to indoctrinate and incite the students and the students who have created the antisemitic and virulently anti-Israel climate on campus.**

**This incident illustrates why Columbia is unable to reform itself and an external intervention is needed.**

## **Social Media**

* 2024-06-12
  * Aaron Sibarum: [__https://x.com/aaronsibarium/status/1801061945098846440__](https://x.com/aaronsibarium/status/1801061945098846440)
  * DJHC: [__https://x.com/campusjewhate/status/1801084715530686468__](https://x.com/campusjewhate/status/1801084715530686468)


* 2024-06-13
  * DJHC: [__https://x.com/campusjewhate/status/1801301823069786118__](https://x.com/campusjewhate/status/1801301823069786118)


* 2024-06-14
  * Eliana Johnson: [__https://x.com/elianayjohnson/status/1801694798581023071__](https://x.com/elianayjohnson/status/1801694798581023071)


* 2024-06-21
  * Jessica Costescu: [__https://x.com/jessicacostescu/status/1804317438525296665__](https://x.com/jessicacostescu/status/1804317438525296665)

## **Media**

* 2024-06-12
  * [__Columbia Administrators Fire Off Hostile and Dismissive Text Messages, Vomit Emojis During Alumni Reunion Panel on Jewish Life__](https://freebeacon.com/campus/columbia-administrators-fire-off-hostile-and-dismissive-text-messages-vomit-emojis-during-alumni-reunion-panel-on-jewish-life/) by Eliana Johnson and Aaron Sibarium, Washington Free Beacon, June 12, 2024 **#Faculty**


* 2024-06-14
  * [__Columbia Dean Who Accused Jew of Exploiting Anti-Semitism for Money Has Cool New Profile Pic__](https://freebeacon.com/author/stiles/campus/columbia-dean-who-accused-jew-of-exploiting-anti-semitism-for-money-has-cool-new-profile-pic/) by Andrew Stiles, Washington Free Beacon, June 14, 2024 **#DJHC #Faculty**
  * [__Columbia College Dean Says Disparaging Texts, Vomit Emojis Sent During Panel on Jewish Life Don't Reflect the 'Views' of Administrators__](https://freebeacon.com/campus/columbia-college-dean-says-disparaging-texts-vomit-emojis-sent-during-panel-on-jewish-life-dont-reflect-the-views-of-administrators/) by Aaron Sibarium and Eliana Johnson, Washington Free Beacon, June 14, 2024 **#Faculty**


* 2024-06-17
  * [__Chair Foxx Requests Text Messages Sent by Columbia University Administrators__](https://edworkforce.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=411705), Committee on Education and the Workforce Press Release, June 17, 2024


* 2024-06-18
  * [__I Took Pictures of a Columbia Dean's Phone. Here's Why.__](https://freebeacon.com/campus/i-took-pictures-of-a-columbia-deans-phone-heres-why/) by Anonymous, Washington Free Beacon, June 18, 2024


* 2024-06-20
  * [__Three Columbia Deans Placed on Leave Pending Investigation__](https://freebeacon.com/campus/three-columbia-deans-placed-on-leave-pending-investigation/) by Eliana Johnson, Washington Free Beacon, June 20, 2024


* 2024-06-21
  * [__‘LMAO’: Dean of Columbia College Mocked Hillel Head in Newly Obtained Text Exchange__](https://freebeacon.com/campus/lmao-dean-of-columbia-college-mocked-hillel-head-in-newly-obtained-text-exchange/) by Aaron Sibarium and Eliana Johnson, Washington Free Beacon, June 21, 2024 **#Faculty**
  * [__Columbia suspends 3 administrators over disparaging texts during panel on campus Jewish life__](https://www.jta.org/2024/06/21/ny/columbia-suspends-3-administrators-over-disparaging-texts-during-panel-on-campus-jewish-life) by Luke Tess, JTA, June 21, 2024 **#Faculty**
  * [__Three Columbia College administrators placed on leave amid investigation into leaked texts sent during panel on Jewish life__](https://www.columbiaspectator.com/news/2024/06/21/three-columbia-college-administrators-placed-on-leave-amid-investigation-into-leaked-texts-sent-during-panel-on-jewish-life/) by Noah Bernstein, Columbia Spectator, June 21, 2024 **#Faculty**
  * [__Three Columbia deans placed on leave over disparaging text exchange during antisemitism panel__](https://nypost.com/2024/06/21/us-news/three-columbia-deans-placed-on-leave-over-disparaging-text-exchange-during-antisemitism-panel/) by Chris Nesti, New York Post, June 21, 2024 **#Faculty**
  * [__Columbia Dean Calls Cops on Free Beacon Reporter__](https://freebeacon.com/campus/columbia-dean-calls-cops-on-free-beacon-reporter/) by Jessica Costescu, Washington Free Beacon, June 21, 2024 **#Faculty**


* 2024-06-24
  * [__'MckArthy [sic] Era': Columbia Middle Eastern Studies Chair Decries Free Beacon Report on Deans' Anti-Semitic Text Exchanges__](https://freebeacon.com/campus/mckarthy-sic-era-columbia-middle-eastern-studies-chair-decries-free-beacon-report-on-deans-anti-semitic-text-exchanges/) by Jessica Costescu, Washington Free Beacon, June 24, 2024 **#Faculty**


* 2024-07-02
  * [__House committee releases new texts sent during panel on Jewish life amid investigation into Columbia administrators__](https://www.columbiaspectator.com/news/2024/07/02/house-committee-releases-new-texts-sent-during-panel-on-jewish-life-amid-investigation-into-columbia-administrators/) by Noah Bernstein, Columbia Spectator, July 2, 2024 **#Faculty**
  * [__‘Amazing what $$$$ can do’: New Text Messages Show Columbia Deans Sneering at ‘Privilege’ of Jewish Students__](https://freebeacon.com/campus/amazing-what-can-do-new-text-messages-show-columbia-deans-sneering-at-privilege-of-jewish-students/) by Aaron Sibarium and Jessica Costescu, The Washington Free Beacon, July 2, 2024 **#Faculty**
  * [__New texts show Columbia deans mocked Jewish students over antisemitism concerns: ‘Comes from such a place of privilege’__](https://nypost.com/2024/07/02/us-news/columbia-deans-mocked-jewish-students-over-antisemitism-concerns-new-texts/?utm_campaign=nypost&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social) by Josh Christenson, New York Post, July 2. 2024 **#Faculty**


* 2024-07-03
  * [__In newly revealed texts, Columbia deans discuss Jewish student ‘privilege’ and ‘$$$$’__](https://www.timesofisrael.com/columbia-deans-discuss-jewish-student-privilege-and-in-newly-revealed-texts/) by Luke Tress, The Times of Israel, July 3, 2024 **#Faculty**
  * [__Columbia Officials Admit Protest Rules 'Don't Work,' Mock Other Administrators in New Texts__](https://freebeacon.com/campus/columbia-officials-admit-protest-rules-dont-work-mock-other-administrators-in-new-texts/) by Aaron Sibarium, The Washington Free Beacon, July 3, 2024 **#Faculty**


* 2024-07-04
  * [__Deans’ disdainful texts further expose the antisemitic rot at Columbia__](https://nypost.com/2024/07/04/opinion/deans-disdainful-texts-continue-to-expose-the-antisemitic-rot-at-columbia/) by By Post Editorial Board, New York Post, July 4, 2024 **#Faculty**


* 2024-08-08
  * [__Three Columbia deans resign after controversy surrounding leaked texts sent during panel on Jewish life__](https://www.columbiaspectator.com/news/2024/08/08/three-columbia-deans-resign-after-controversy-surrounding-leaked-texts-sent-during-panel-on-jewish-life/) by Noah Bernstein and Shea Vance, Columbia Spectator, August 8, 2024 **#Faculty**
  * [__3 Columbia University Deans Who Sent Insulting Texts Have Resigned__](https://archive.ph/qIwXb) by Sharon Otterman, New York Times, August 8, 2024 **#Faculty**
  * [__Chair Foxx: “About time” Columbia deans resign__](https://edworkforce.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=411849), Committee on Education and the Workforce Press Release, August 8, 2024 **#Faculty**

# Footer

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**Documents**

- [DOCUMENTING JEW HATRED ON CAMPUS (DJHC)](https://documentingjewhatredoncampus.getoutline.com/s/93b310d5-95f0-449a-8b9c-8856879b06e8/doc/documenting-jew-hatred-on-campus-djhc-WUPKm3CSLY)
- [GENERAL REFERENCE INFORMATION](https://documentingjewhatredoncampus.getoutline.com/s/93b310d5-95f0-449a-8b9c-8856879b06e8/doc/general-reference-information-7DxXSS7JcC)
- [COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY ARCHIVE](https://documentingjewhatredoncampus.getoutline.com/s/93b310d5-95f0-449a-8b9c-8856879b06e8/doc/columbia-university-archive-epk0gmmFWv)