United States – Three deans from Columbia University who were involved in questionable text messages, which the university administration described as ‘sexual’ and containing ‘reference to ancient antisemitic tropes,’ have resigned, a university spokesperson said on Thursday evening.
Messages Deemed ‘Sexual’ Containing Antisemitic Tropes
Those staff who were earlier sent on leave as the investigation went on include Cristen Kromm, the former dean of undergraduate student life; Matthew Patashnick, the former associate dean for student and family support; and Susan Chang-Kim, the former vice dean and chief administrative officer, as reported by Reuters.
The message exchanges took place during an event on campus titled “Jewish Life on Campus: that included “Past, Present, and Future” and came after weeks of protests at Columbia and other campuses around the country over Israel’s war in Gaza, the university administration said in July.
“This incident revealed behavior 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 reached for an interview. The university spokesperson who confirmed their resignation declined to give other details concerning the matter.
Ongoing Protests and Tensions on Campus
Months of protest in the United States over US support to the war in Gaza, in which Israel has killed about 40,000 Palestinians, as confirmed by the local health ministry, displaced nearly the entire population of 2.3 million and resulted in a hunger crisis.
The continuation of bloodshed between Israelis and Palestinians in the long-standing conflict was ignited on October 7 when Hamas, a Palestinian Islamist group governing Gaza, attacked Israel, killing 1,200 and kidnapped about 250, according to Israeli estimations.
A word on Israel’s recent incursion into Gaza: It has sparked genocide claims at the World Court as well. Israel has dismissed those allegations and, in the same turn, accuses Hamas of planning to perpetrate genocide against Israel.
Student Demonstrations Reflect Deepening Divides
Campus demonstrators have called for ending the war and stopping giving aid to the Israeli military in the USA; they called for eradicating University investments in companies which support the Israeli occupation of Palestine, as reported by Reuters.
Some of the protests and counter-protests have included defiance that may be considered antisemitic and Islamophobic.
Columbia itself became the stage of protest where students occupied the campus, and there were reported instances of police brutality and brutalization of students.
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