3 Columbia University Deans Who Sent Insulting Texts Have Resigned

Three Columbia University deans who exchanged disparaging text messages that the university president said “touched on ancient antisemitic tropes” during a forum about Jewish issues in May are resigning, a spokeswoman said Thursday. The deans, who had responsibility for undergraduate student affairs, sent the biting and sarcastic messages as they reacted in real time to Jewish speakers expressing concern about antisemitism on campus during the two-hour event. In June, Nemat Shafik, the university president, placed the three deans on indefinite leave as an investigation proceeded.