NEW YORK — Columbia University said it has placed three administrators on leave while it investigates allegations that they exchanged unprofessional text messages while attending a panel discussion about antisemitism on campus.
The university said the administrators work for its undergraduate Columbia College, which hosted the panel discussion “Jewish Life on Campus: Past, Present and Future” during an alumni reunion on May 31.
The university said the college’s dean, Josef Sorett, informed his team on Thursday that the three administrators were being put on leave.
“Columbia College is attending to this situation with the utmost seriousness,” a college spokesperson said. “We are committed to confronting antisemitism, discrimination and hate, and taking concrete action to ensure that our is a community of respect and healthy dialogue where everyone feels valued and safe.”
Columbia did not identify the administrators by name and declined to discuss the matter further while the investigation is pending.
The Washington Free Beacon, a conservative news outlet, published images on June 12 and 21 of what it said were the administrators’ text messages. One included a suggestion that a panelist could have used the campus protests for fundraising and another that appeared critical of a campus rabbi’s essay about antisemitism.
The panel about antisemitism was held a month after university leaders called in police to clear pro-Palestinian protesters out of an occupied administration building and dismantle a tent encampment that had threatened to disrupt graduation ceremonies.
The police action came amid deep divisions on campus as to whether some of the protests against Israel’s military campaign in Gaza have been antisemitic.
Some text messages allegedly sent by Sorett were among those published by the news outlet, but he was not among those put on leave. He will continue to serve as dean and is cooperating with the investigation, the university said.
“I deeply regret my role in these text exchanges and the impact they have had on our community,” Sorett said in a message Friday to the Columbia College Board of Visitors.
Sorett said he is “committed to learning from this situation and to the work of confronting antisemitism, discrimination and hate at Columbia.”
Three Columbia University administrators have been placed on leave following allegations of engaging in inappropriate text exchanges during an antisemitism panel. The incident has sparked outrage and calls for accountability within the university community.
The administrators in question, who have not been publicly identified, were allegedly exchanging derogatory and offensive messages during a virtual panel discussion on antisemitism. The messages were reportedly shared in a private chat group and included disparaging remarks about Jewish students and faculty members.
The incident came to light after screenshots of the messages were leaked to the media, prompting swift action from university officials. In a statement, Columbia University President Lee Bollinger condemned the behavior and announced that the administrators had been placed on leave pending an investigation.
The allegations have raised concerns about the prevalence of antisemitism on college campuses and the need for universities to take a strong stance against discrimination and hate speech. In recent years, there has been a rise in antisemitic incidents on college campuses across the country, prompting calls for greater awareness and education on the issue.
Columbia University has a long history of promoting diversity and inclusion, and the allegations against the administrators have been met with shock and disappointment by many in the university community. Students, faculty, and alumni have called for transparency and accountability in addressing the incident and ensuring that such behavior is not tolerated on campus.
In response to the allegations, Columbia University has announced plans to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter and take appropriate action based on the findings. The university has also reaffirmed its commitment to fostering a safe and inclusive environment for all members of the community.
As the investigation unfolds, it is important for Columbia University to take swift and decisive action to address the allegations of inappropriate behavior by the administrators. The incident serves as a reminder of the need for ongoing education and awareness around issues of discrimination and hate speech, and the importance of upholding values of respect and tolerance within academic institutions.
