Columbia University President Resigns After Controversy

Minouche Shafik, the president of Columbia University, has resigned unexpectedly just weeks before the start of the fall semester, following intense criticism regarding her management of campus protests related to the Gaza conflict. In an email to the university community, Shafik expressed that the situation had taken a toll on her family and acknowledged the challenges faced by the institution over the past year. Her resignation is effective immediately, and Katrina Armstrong, CEO of the Columbia University Irving Medical Center, has been appointed as interim president. Shafik's tenure, which began in July 2023, marked her as the first woman to lead the prestigious university. However, her administration faced significant backlash after she testified before Congress regarding allegations of antisemitism on campus and called the police to address student protests. The university's response, which included police intervention to dismantle protest encampments, drew criticism from students and faculty, who accused the administration of failing to ensure the safety of Jewish students. Following the announcement of her resignation, reports emerged of pro-Palestinian protesters celebrating near the campus, with some students expressing support for the leadership change. Activist Mahmoud Khalil emphasized that student activism would persist until the university divested from what they termed "Israeli apartheid." Shafik's departure aligns with a trend of university leaders resigning under similar pressures, as seen with counterparts at the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard. As Shafik prepares to return to the UK to lead a review on international development, her resignation underscores the ongoing tensions within higher education institutions regarding political activism and campus safety.