Columbia College Dean Josef Sorett was also involved in the text exchange but has not been placed on leave and is cooperating with the investigation while recused from matters relating to it.
The controversy arises amid deep divisions on campus regarding whether some protests against Israel's military campaign in Gaza have been antisemitic.
The text messages contained disparaging comments towards a campus rabbi's essay about antisemitism and suggestions that a panelist could have used campus protests for fundraising.
The Washington Free Beacon published images of the text messages, some allegedly sent by Sorett, on June 12 and 21.
Three Columbia University administrators, Susan Chang-Kim, Cristen Kromm, and Matthew Patashnick, have been placed on leave following allegations of unprofessional text messages during a panel discussion about antisemitism on campus.
Three Columbia University administrators have been placed on leave while the institution investigates allegations of unprofessional text messages exchanged during a panel discussion about antisemitism on campus. The panel, titled 'Jewish Life on Campus: Past, Present and Future,' was held during an alumni reunion on May 31, 2021. The administrators in question are Susan Chang-Kim, Cristen Kromm, and Matthew Patashnick. The text messages allegedly contained disparaging comments towards a campus rabbi's essay about antisemitism and suggestions that a panelist could have used campus protests for fundraising.
The controversy comes amid deep divisions on campus regarding whether some protests against Israel's military campaign in Gaza have been antisemitic. Last fall, university leaders called in police to clear pro-Palestinian protesters out of an occupied administration building and dismantle a tent encampment that threatened to disrupt graduation ceremonies.
Columbia College Dean Josef Sorett was also involved in the text exchange but has not been placed on leave. He is cooperating with the investigation and will continue to serve as dean while recused from matters relating to it.
The Washington Free Beacon, a conservative news outlet, published images of the text messages on June 12 and 21. Some of these messages were allegedly sent by Sorett but he has not addressed his own participation or offered a clear apology.
Columbia University declined to comment on why Sorett is not also under investigation or who would conduct the investigation.
Three unnamed administrators were placed on leave while Columbia University investigates allegations that they exchanged unprofessional text messages during a panel discussion about antisemitism on campus.
The text messages were allegedly containing suggestions that a panelist could have used campus protests for fundraising or criticizing a rabbi’s essay about antisemitism.
There have been deep divisions on campus regarding whether some protests against Israel’s military campaign in Gaza are antisemitic.
Accuracy
One of the administrators reportedly suggested using campus protests for fundraising.
Another allegedly criticized a rabbi’s essay about antisemitism.
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(95%)
No formal fallacies detected. Some inflammatory rhetoric and a potential appeal to authority. The article discusses an ongoing investigation and reports on allegations without confirming their veracity.
][The Washington Free Beacon, a conservative news outlet, published images on June 12 and 21 of what it said were the administrators' text messages.]
Three Columbia University administrators were placed on leave following the emergence of disparaging text messages they shared during a panel discussion about antisemitism on campus.
The text messages were exchanged during a Columbia College reunion on May 31, 2021.
The officials identified in the leaked images are Susan Chang-Kim, Cristen Kromm, and Matthew Patashnick.
Susan Chang-Kim also exchanged texts with Josef Sorett during the event.
Accuracy
One of the administrators reportedly suggested using campus protests for fundraising.
Another allegedly criticized a rabbi’s essay about antisemitism.
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(85%)
The author presents a clear and accurate account of the events, but uses inflammatory rhetoric by mentioning 'disparaging text messages' and 'controversy at Columbia University'. This creates an emotionally charged narrative without providing evidence for the claims. Additionally, there is a dichotomous depiction of the officials as either being on leave or not mentioned in the article, which may mislead readers into thinking that all officials were placed on leave.
. . . sharing disparaging text messages during a panel discussion about antisemitism on campus.
The episode was only the most recent controversy at Columbia University since the start of the Israel-Hamas war last fall.
Three Columbia University administrators have been placed on leave while the institution investigates allegations of unprofessional text messages exchanged during a panel discussion about antisemitism on campus.
The Washington Free Beacon published text messages allegedly sent by the administrators, which included a suggestion that a panelist could use campus protests for fundraising and criticism of a campus rabbi’s essay about antisemitism.
Accuracy
One of the administrators reportedly suggested using campus protests for fundraising.
Another allegedly criticized a rabbi’s essay about antisemitism.
Three deans at Columbia University, Susan Chang-Kim, Matthew Patashnick and Cristen Kromm, have been placed on administrative leave following the release of screenshots of their disparaging texts during an antisemitism panel.
The texts included dismissive comments and vomit emojis.
Accuracy
Columbia University Dean Josef Sorett was also involved in the group chat but has not been removed from his position or placed on leave.
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority and inflammatory rhetoric. It reports on the placement of three deans on administrative leave without directly criticizing or endorsing the decision, but it does include inflammatory language such as
]Three deans at Columbia University have been placed on leave after screenshots of their texts during an antisemitism panel, which included vomit emojis and dismissive texts, were shared online.
Josef Sorett, dean of Columbia College, mocked Hillel director Brian Cohen in a text message obtained by the Washington Free Beacon.
Sorett has sought to distance himself from the exchange, but has not addressed his own participation or offered a clear apology.
Two other Columbia University deans, Matthew Patashnick and Cristen Kromm, exchanged messages with Chang-Kim during the panel discussion using vomit emojis to describe a Columbia rabbi’s op-ed and arguing that Cohen was capitalizing on the moment for ‘fundraising potential’.
Sorett has placed Chang-Kim, Patashnick, and Kromm on leave pending an investigation.
Columbia University declined to comment on why Sorett is not also under investigation or who would conduct the investigation.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(85%)
The authors use inflammatory rhetoric by describing the deans' messages as 'derisive' and 'shocked Jewish students.' They also make an appeal to authority by stating that the texts reflect the way in which Columbia administrators have echoed and emboldened their most radical students. However, they do not provide any evidence to support this claim.
][deans' messages] are derisive[[, ]]It's no wonder these students feel entitled to go take over a lawn or take over a building when you have actual leaders-people who hold a meaningful title-sending puke emojis as somebody's speaking[[]
Bias
(80%)
The authors use the phrase 'LMAO' which can be interpreted as derisive or mocking. They also refer to the Hillel director's statements about his soul being broken and calls to murder Jewish students as 'difficult to listen to'. These phrases could be seen as depicting one side (the Hillel director and those expressing concern for Jewish students) as extreme or unreasonable.
He is our hero.
LMAO,
Well now we know why this is on the trustees’ meeting agenda. LC put it there.
