Columbia University president after Gaza protests turmoil

Columbia University President Nemat "Minouche" Shafik has resigned effective immediately, following intense scrutiny over her management of student protests related to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Shafik's departure comes just weeks before the autumn semester begins and follows a tumultuous year marked by significant unrest on campus. Katrina Armstrong, the university's executive vice president for health and biomedical sciences, has been appointed as interim president. Shafik's resignation is part of a broader trend among Ivy League leaders, with her decision coming on the heels of similar departures from the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard University. Critics have accused Shafik of inadequately addressing rising antisemitism and mishandling the protests, which began in April when students called for the university to divest from companies supporting Israel. Tensions escalated when Shafik authorized police interventions that resulted in numerous arrests, drawing backlash from students and faculty alike. In her resignation letter, Shafik expressed that the recent turmoil had taken a toll on her family and the university community. She noted that her decision to step down would allow for new leadership to navigate the challenges ahead. Pro-Palestinian student groups welcomed her resignation, vowing to continue their activism until the university divests from Israel, while others criticized her for the violence that occurred during police actions against demonstrators. As the new academic year approaches, universities across the U.S. are bracing for renewed activism, with some implementing stricter protest regulations. The situation at Columbia reflects a growing divide within higher education regarding free speech, activism, and institutional responses to complex geopolitical issues.