Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) today released the following statement regarding the resignations of three Columbia University deans who exchanged disparaging text messages about Jewish students and colleagues.

“About time. Actions have consequences, and Columbia should have fired all four of these deans months ago. Instead, the University continues to send mixed signals, letting Columbia College Dean Josef Sorett, the highest-ranking administrator involved, slide under the radar with no real consequences. These administrators had a responsibility to ensure Jewish students are able to thrive safely on Columbia’s campus, and they failed miserably, showing contempt for the Jewish community and engaging in antisemitic tropes. I hope that Columbia continues to sever ties with anyone who has been complicit in the antisemitism that’s overrun the campus since October 7."

BACKGROUND:

Following reports that four Columbia deans had exchanged disparaging text messages as members of the university’s Jewish community discussed antisemitism in a panel on Jewish life on campus, Chairwoman Foxx demanded that the texts be turned over to the Committee as part of its ongoing investigation into antisemitism at colleges and universities.  

The texts came from threads involving Susan Chang-Kim, the vice dean and chief administrative officer of Columbia College; Cristen Kromm, the dean of undergraduate student life; Matthew Patashnick, the associate dean for student and family support; and Josef Sorett, the dean of Columbia College. The texts offered further insight into the perspective of these administrators on the climate at Columbia following the October 7 attacks.

The Committee has stood firm in support of Jewish students and consistently called for the Columbia administration to take action against the illegal activity on its campus:

• In February, Chairwoman Foxx demanded answers from top Columbia University officials regarding its response to antisemitism and failure to protect Jewish students, faculty, and staff.
• In April, Chairwoman Foxx convened a full committee hearing with top Columbia University officials to hold them accountable for the situation on their campus.
• Following the hearing, Chairwoman Foxx again called on Columbia University officials to honor their commitments made before Congress just days earlier as the situation continued to deteriorate.
• In April, Chairwoman Foxx accompanied Speaker Mike Johnson to see the chaos at Columbia University firsthand.
• In August, Chairwoman Foxx renewed demands for information into the University’s response to antisemitism on campus, and made it clear that the Committee was prepared to issue a subpoena if the University failed to produce it voluntarily.