“Amazing what $$$$ can do," replied Kromm.
Patashnick said Jewish students “will have their own dorm soon” after the head of Columbia Hillel, Brian Cohen, noted that many Jews felt more comfortable spending time at the Kraft Center he runs than in their own dormitories.
"Comes from such a place of privilege," Chang-Kim wrote back. “Trying to be open minded to understand but the doors are closing.”
The deans also mocked Cohen’s efforts to provide support services to Jewish and Israeli students, implying that they were receiving special treatment not afforded to other groups on campus.
"Not all heroes wear capes," Patashnick texted sarcastically. "If only every identity community had these resources and support," Kromm replied.
In a statement to the Columbia community last month, Shafik condemned the messages, saying they were “not only unprofessional, but also, disturbingly touched on ancient antisemitic tropes. Whether intended as such or not, these sentiments are unacceptable and deeply upsetting, conveying a lack of seriousness about the concerns and the experiences of members of our Jewish community that is antithetical to our University’s values and the standards we must uphold in our community.”
The messages were sent in the weeks after large-scale pro-Palestine protests erupted at the New York City campus, making international headlines and inspiring dozens of similar demonstrations on campuses across the US. Shafik herself faced calls for resignation in May over her administration’s handling of the protests and a lack of response to Jewish students’ complaints of campus antisemitism.
