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Undid revision 1239828919 by Notwally (talk) How can the entire Talk page discussion that ended July 11 concern coverage published in August? Stop reverting without consensus, stop vandalizing and stop gaslighting. .Take your claim to the Talk page, if you have one.
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Sorett first taught at [[Columbia University]] in 2009, and he became Professor of Religion and African American and [[African diaspora studies|African Diaspora Studies]], Chair of the Department of Religion, and Director of the Center on African-American Religion, Sexual Politics and Social Justice. His research focuses on how religion has shaped cultures of Black communities and movements in the United States, from a perspective that straddles history, literature, religion, art, and music.<ref name="BU"/> Sorett is the editor of ''The Sexual Politics of Black Churches'' published by [[Columbia University Press]] in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jbhe.com/2022/06/three-african-american-scholars-who-have-been-appointed-deans/ |title=Three African American Scholars Who Have Been Appointed Deans |website=[[The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education]] |date=June 6, 2022 |access-date=May 1, 2024 }}</ref> The book investigates the politics of sexuality within Black churches and their communities.<ref name="BU" /> Sorett, who since 2022 has also served as Chair of Columbia University's Inclusive Public Safety Advisory Committee to "foster an inclusive campus community" with dialogue about campus racism, received Columbia's Presidential Award for Outstanding Teaching in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=Fall 2022 |title=Meet Columbia's Five New Deans |url=https://magazine.columbia.edu/article/meet-columbias-five-new-deans |access-date=July 9, 2024 |work=Columbia Magazine }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Andres |first= Dylan |title=Inclusive Public Safety Advisory Committee starts to make headway amid administrative turnover |url=https://www.columbiaspectator.com/news/2022/02/22/inclusive-public-safety-advisory-committee-starts-to-make-headway-amid-administrative-turnover/ |date=February 22, 2022 |access-date=July 9, 2024 |website=[[Columbia Daily Spectator]] }}</ref><ref name="IPSAC">{{Cite web |title=The Inclusive Public Safety Advisory Committee |url=https://universitylife.columbia.edu/inclusive-public-safety |access-date=July 9, 2024 |publisher=[[Columbia University]] }}</ref>
Sorett first taught at [[Columbia University]] in 2009, and he became Professor of Religion and African American and [[African diaspora studies|African Diaspora Studies]], Chair of the Department of Religion, and Director of the Center on African-American Religion, Sexual Politics and Social Justice. His research focuses on how religion has shaped cultures of Black communities and movements in the United States, from a perspective that straddles history, literature, religion, art, and music.<ref name="BU"/> Sorett is the editor of ''The Sexual Politics of Black Churches'' published by [[Columbia University Press]] in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jbhe.com/2022/06/three-african-american-scholars-who-have-been-appointed-deans/ |title=Three African American Scholars Who Have Been Appointed Deans |website=[[The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education]] |date=June 6, 2022 |access-date=May 1, 2024 }}</ref> The book investigates the politics of sexuality within Black churches and their communities.<ref name="BU" /> Sorett, who since 2022 has also served as Chair of Columbia University's Inclusive Public Safety Advisory Committee to "foster an inclusive campus community" with dialogue about campus racism, received Columbia's Presidential Award for Outstanding Teaching in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=Fall 2022 |title=Meet Columbia's Five New Deans |url=https://magazine.columbia.edu/article/meet-columbias-five-new-deans |access-date=July 9, 2024 |work=Columbia Magazine }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Andres |first= Dylan |title=Inclusive Public Safety Advisory Committee starts to make headway amid administrative turnover |url=https://www.columbiaspectator.com/news/2022/02/22/inclusive-public-safety-advisory-committee-starts-to-make-headway-amid-administrative-turnover/ |date=February 22, 2022 |access-date=July 9, 2024 |website=[[Columbia Daily Spectator]] }}</ref><ref name="IPSAC">{{Cite web |title=The Inclusive Public Safety Advisory Committee |url=https://universitylife.columbia.edu/inclusive-public-safety |access-date=July 9, 2024 |publisher=[[Columbia University]] }}</ref>


=== Dean of Columbia College ===
=== Dean of Columbia College===
Since July 2022, Dr. Sorett has served as the Dean of [[Columbia College, Columbia University|Columbia College]] and Vice President of Undergraduate Education.<ref name="BU" />
Since July 2022, Dr. Sorett has served as the Dean of [[Columbia College, Columbia University|Columbia College]] and Vice President of Undergraduate Education.<ref name="BU" />


==Antisemitism controversy==
During Columbia University students' [[2024 Columbia University pro-Palestinian campus occupation|2024 Pro-Palestine campus protests]], Sorett sent an email to students on April 18 urging them to "avoid the false surety of familiar assumptions" of their peers' thoughts, intentions, and motivations.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Bernstein |first1=Noah |last2=Huddleston |first2=Sarah |url=https://www.columbiaspectator.com/news/2024/04/18/sorett-issues-statement-on-arrests-encourages-students-to-avoid-familiar-assumptions/ |title=Sorett issues statement on arrests, encourages students to avoid 'familiar assumptions' |website=[[Columbia Daily Spectator]] |date=April 18, 2024 |access-date=May 1, 2024 }}</ref> Sorett sent an email to Columbia alumni on April 24 about the campus protests, denouncing antisemitic and Islamophobic rhetoric.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vogt |first=Adrienne |date=April 4, 2024 |title='Difficult moment' for Columbia: College dean sends email to alumni |url=https://www.cnn.com/business/live-news/columbia-yale-university-protests-04-24-24#h_a83fe51f6ac1c888a04adfb1b81538e2 |access-date=July 9, 2024 |work=[[CNN]] }}</ref>


During Columbia's annual alumni reunion on May 31, 2024, Sorett texted with three other Columbia deans (Susan Chang-Kim, the college’s vice dean and chief administrative officer; Cristen Kromm, the dean of undergraduate student life; and Matthew Patashnick, the associate dean for student and family support) in a disparaging fashion about a panel about antisemitism on campus, responding "yup" to derogatory comments of the others and at one point responding "[[wikt:LMAO|LMAO]]".
During Columbia's annual alumni reunion on May 31, 2024, Sorett engaged with texts by three Columbia administrators disparaging a panel about antisemitism on campus, at one point responding "[[wikt:LMAO|LMAO]]" to one of the text messages. The three administrators were placed on leave and removed from their positions.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Meko |first=Hurubie |date=June 22, 2024 |title=3 Columbia Deans Placed on Leave Over Conduct at Antisemitism Panel |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/22/nyregion/columbia-deans-antisemitism-panel.html |access-date=July 8, 2024 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Rosman |first=Katherine |date=2024-07-08 |title=Columbia Removes Three Deans, Saying Texts Touched on 'Antisemitic Tropes' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/08/nyregion/columbia-university-deans-antisemitism.html |access-date=2024-07-09 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> [[Minouche Shafik]], [[President of Columbia University]], stated that the messages were "unacceptable and deeply upsetting."<ref name=":0" /> On July 8, Sorett apologized, noting that "while not intended as such, some of the text messages exchanged may call to mind [[antisemitic tropes]]".<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 8, 2024 |title=3 Columbia University officials lose posts over texts that 'touched on ancient antisemitic tropes' |url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/columbia-university-expels-staff/5575881/ |access-date=July 8, 2024 |website=[[NBC New York]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Sorett-7-8-24">{{Cite web |last=Sorett |first=Josef |date=July 8, 2024 |title=A Message from the Dean |url=https://www.college.columbia.edu/news/message-dean |access-date=July 9, 2024 |website=[[Columbia College, Columbia University|Columbia College]] }}</ref>

On June 8, [[Minouche Shafik]], [[President of Columbia University]], stated that the messages "revealed behavior and sentiments that were not only unprofessional, but also, disturbingly touched on ancient antisemitic tropes" and were "unacceptable and deeply upsetting, conveying a lack of seriousness about the concerns and the experiences of members of our Jewish community."<ref name="PresProv-6-8-24"> {{cite web |url=https://president.columbia.edu/news/messages-president-shafik-and-provost-olinto |title=Messages from President Shafik and Provost Olinto}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> Columbia Provost Angela Olinto announced a series of steps to "hold those involved in the incident accountable." The three deans other than Sorett were placed on indefinite leave and "permanently removed from their positions at Columbia College." Sorett was not placed on leave, but the Provost announced that he would apologize in writing to the Columbia College community and that he would be given "the support and partnership of the deans with whom he works closely to shape and deliver our undergraduate academic programs." <ref name="PresProv-6-8-24"/> Sorett apologized the next day, on June 9.<ref name="Sorett-7-8-24">{{Cite web |last=Sorett |first=Josef |date=July 8, 2024 |title=A Message from the Dean |url=https://www.college.columbia.edu/news/message-dean |access-date=July 9, 2024 |website=[[Columbia College, Columbia University|Columbia College]] }}</ref> After being on leave for two months, the three administrators other than Sorett ultimately resigned on August 8.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Meko |first=Hurubie |date=June 22, 2024 |title=3 Columbia Deans Placed on Leave Over Conduct at Antisemitism Panel |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/22/nyregion/columbia-deans-antisemitism-panel.html |access-date=July 8, 2024 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Rosman |first=Katherine |date=2024-07-08 |title=Columbia Removes Three Deans, Saying Texts Touched on 'Antisemitic Tropes' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/08/nyregion/columbia-university-deans-antisemitism.html |access-date=2024-07-09 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="nytaug8">{{Cite news |last=Otterman |first=Sharon |date=2024-08-08 |title=3 Columbia University Deans Who Sent Insulting Texts Have Resigned |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/08/nyregion/columbia-university-deans-resign-text-messages-antisemitism.html |access-date=2024-08-09 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=July 8, 2024 |title=3 Columbia University officials lose posts over texts that 'touched on ancient antisemitic tropes' |url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/columbia-university-expels-staff/5575881/ |access-date=July 8, 2024 |website=[[NBC New York]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |language=en-US}}</ref>. A petition signed by more than 2,000 students, alumni, and parents called on the college to also remove Dr. Sorett for his role in the incident.<ref name="nytaug8" />.


==Books==
==Books==

Revision as of 20:49, 11 August 2024

Josef Sorett is an American scholar of religion and race in the Americas. He has served as the Dean of Columbia College of Columbia University since July 2022.[1]

Education

Josef Sorett received a Bachelor of Science in Health and Exercise Science from Oral Roberts University, an MDiv in Religion and Literature from Boston University, and his PhD in African American Studies from Harvard University.[2]

Career

Sorett first taught at Columbia University in 2009, and he became Professor of Religion and African American and African Diaspora Studies, Chair of the Department of Religion, and Director of the Center on African-American Religion, Sexual Politics and Social Justice. His research focuses on how religion has shaped cultures of Black communities and movements in the United States, from a perspective that straddles history, literature, religion, art, and music.[2] Sorett is the editor of The Sexual Politics of Black Churches published by Columbia University Press in 2022.[3] The book investigates the politics of sexuality within Black churches and their communities.[2] Sorett, who since 2022 has also served as Chair of Columbia University's Inclusive Public Safety Advisory Committee to "foster an inclusive campus community" with dialogue about campus racism, received Columbia's Presidential Award for Outstanding Teaching in 2022.[4][5][6]

Dean of Columbia College

Since July 2022, Dr. Sorett has served as the Dean of Columbia College and Vice President of Undergraduate Education.[2]

Antisemitism controversy

During Columbia's annual alumni reunion on May 31, 2024, Sorett texted with three other Columbia deans (Susan Chang-Kim, the college’s vice dean and chief administrative officer; Cristen Kromm, the dean of undergraduate student life; and Matthew Patashnick, the associate dean for student and family support) in a disparaging fashion about a panel about antisemitism on campus, responding "yup" to derogatory comments of the others and at one point responding "LMAO".

On June 8, Minouche Shafik, President of Columbia University, stated that the messages "revealed behavior and sentiments that were not only unprofessional, but also, disturbingly touched on ancient antisemitic tropes" and were "unacceptable and deeply upsetting, conveying a lack of seriousness about the concerns and the experiences of members of our Jewish community."[7][8] Columbia Provost Angela Olinto announced a series of steps to "hold those involved in the incident accountable." The three deans other than Sorett were placed on indefinite leave and "permanently removed from their positions at Columbia College." Sorett was not placed on leave, but the Provost announced that he would apologize in writing to the Columbia College community and that he would be given "the support and partnership of the deans with whom he works closely to shape and deliver our undergraduate academic programs." [7] Sorett apologized the next day, on June 9.[9] After being on leave for two months, the three administrators other than Sorett ultimately resigned on August 8.[10][8][11][12]. A petition signed by more than 2,000 students, alumni, and parents called on the college to also remove Dr. Sorett for his role in the incident.[11].

Books

  • Spirit in the Dark: A Religious History of Racial Aesthetics (Oxford University Press, 2016)[13]
  • The Sexual Politics of Black Churches (Columbia University Press, 2022) editor[14]
  • Black is a Church: Christianity and the Contours of African American Life (Oxford University Press, 2023)

References

  1. ^ "Josef Sorett | Department of Religion". religion.columbia.edu. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d Bollinger, Lee C (May 24, 2022). "Dr. Josef Sorett (STH '00) Appointed Dean of Columbia College". Boston University School of Theology. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  3. ^ "Three African American Scholars Who Have Been Appointed Deans". The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education. June 6, 2022. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  4. ^ "Meet Columbia's Five New Deans". Columbia Magazine. Fall 2022. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  5. ^ Andres, Dylan (February 22, 2022). "Inclusive Public Safety Advisory Committee starts to make headway amid administrative turnover". Columbia Daily Spectator. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  6. ^ "The Inclusive Public Safety Advisory Committee". Columbia University. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Messages from President Shafik and Provost Olinto".
  8. ^ a b Rosman, Katherine (July 8, 2024). "Columbia Removes Three Deans, Saying Texts Touched on 'Antisemitic Tropes'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  9. ^ Sorett, Josef (July 8, 2024). "A Message from the Dean". Columbia College. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  10. ^ Meko, Hurubie (June 22, 2024). "3 Columbia Deans Placed on Leave Over Conduct at Antisemitism Panel". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  11. ^ a b Otterman, Sharon (August 8, 2024). "3 Columbia University Deans Who Sent Insulting Texts Have Resigned". The New York Times. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  12. ^ "3 Columbia University officials lose posts over texts that 'touched on ancient antisemitic tropes'". NBC New York. Associated Press. July 8, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  13. ^ Winters, Joseph (December 9, 2018). "Spirit in the Dark: A Religious History of Racial Aesthetics by Josef Sorett (review)". African American Review. 51 (2): 155–158. doi:10.1353/afa.2018.0027. Retrieved December 9, 2023 – via Project MUSE.
  14. ^ Thyssen, Ashwin Afrikanus (August 1, 2023). "The sexual politics of black churches: edited by Josef Sorrett, New York, Columbia University Press, 2022, 280 pp., $ 35 (paperback), ISBN: 9780231188333". Politics, Religion & Ideology. 24 (4): 614–616. doi:10.1080/21567689.2023.2242682. Retrieved December 9, 2023 – via CrossRef.


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