Columbia College mentioned it has positioned three directors on go away whereas it investigates allegations that they exchanged unprofessional textual content messages whereas attending a panel dialogue on anti-Semitism on campus.
The college mentioned the directors work for its Columbia School, which hosted the panel dialogue “Jewish Life on Campus: Previous, Current and Future” throughout an alumni gathering on Could 31.
The college mentioned the faculty’s dean, Josef Sorett, knowledgeable his workers Thursday that the three directors have been on go away.
“Columbia School is taking this example with the utmost seriousness,” a college spokesperson mentioned. “We’re dedicated to confronting anti-Semitism, discrimination and hate, and taking concrete steps to make sure that our group is one among respect and wholesome dialogue the place everybody feels valued and protected.”
Columbia didn’t determine the directors by title and declined to debate the matter additional whereas the investigation is pending.
The Washington Free Beacon, a conservative media outlet, revealed photos on June 12 and 21 of what it mentioned have been textual content messages from directors. One included a suggestion {that a} panelist could have used campus protests to boost funds and one other that appeared crucial of a campus rabbi’s essay on anti-Semitism.
The panel on anti-Semitism was held a month after college leaders referred to as police to take away pro-Palestinian protesters from an occupied administration constructing and dismantle a tent encampment that had threatened to disrupt commencement ceremonies.
The police motion got here amid deep divisions on campus over whether or not a few of the protests towards Israel’s navy marketing campaign in Gaza have been anti-Semitic.
Some textual content messages allegedly despatched by Sorett have been amongst these revealed by the media outlet, however he was not amongst these suspended. He’ll proceed to function dean and cooperate with the investigation, the college mentioned.
“I deeply remorse my position in these textual content exchanges and the affect they’ve had on our group,” Sorett mentioned in a message Friday to the Columbia School Board of Guests.
Sorett mentioned he’s “dedicated to studying from this example and dealing to confront anti-Semitism, discrimination and hate in Columbia.”
