Minouche Shafik becomes the latest president to resign in the wake of protest on campus about the war between Israel and Hamas.
The president of Columbia University in New York City, Mininouche Shafik, stepped down on Wednesday after the school became a focal point of nationwide debates due to the Israel-Hamas war due to her handling of pro-Palestinian protests on campus this year.
The dramatic change of events makes her the latest president of Ivy League schools to resign since domestic controversies over the conflict started to erupt on college campuses, especially at schools in the major cities. Most of the protests were inspired by the events at Manhattan School last semester.
In an email to faculty and students on Wednesday evening, she wrote, “This period has taken a considerable toll on my family, as it has for others in our community.” “Over the summer, I have been able to reflect and have decided that my moving on at this point would best enable Columbia to traverse the challenges ahead.”
Shafik, a former World Bank official, stated on Wednesday that she would return to England after the UK foreign minister requested that she serve in a high-ranking government role.
Shafik found herself in a vulnerable situation following her testimony as president before Congress in April, much like the now-former presidents of Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania. Claudine Gay of Harvard resigned in January after only six months on the job. Liz Maguil, the president of the University of Pennsylvania, resigned a few days after Republicans called her and Gay to Washington last December.
Shafiks attempt to calm bipartisan concerns about antisemitism as the spring semester came to an end only made things worse at the school. Following her testimony, giant, large crowns of antizionist protestors invaded the campus lawns, demanding that the university cut all ties with the state of Israel. Shafik claimed the protesters violated university policies and posted a “clear and present danger.” When she called the New York City Police Department, over 100 protestors were taken into custody by the cops.
When protestors on campus occupied an academic building later that month, she summoned law enforcement back to campus. A few days prior, she stated that she had no intention of calling the police to handle students’ unrest regarding the Middle East conflict once more.
An email from the school board of trustees on Wednesday stated that Katrina Armstrong, the chief executive officer of the Columbia University Irving Medical Center, has consented to take on the role of interim president for the institution.
They stated, “We believe that Katrina is the right leader for this moment.” They added, “We are grateful to her for stepping in, and we call on our community to support her.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson issued a statement late Wednesday describing Shafik’s resignation as “long overdue.”
Johnson stated, “We hope that President Shafik’s resignation serves as an example to university administrators across the country that tolerating or protecting antisemites is unacceptable and will have consequences.” “Jewish students at Columbia beginning this school year should breathe a sigh of relief.”
