Columbia University president resigns after Gaza protests riot
News 15-08-2024
Minouche Shafik, the president of Columbia University, has stepped down fromherrole four monthsafter the campus wasengulfed in protestsrelated to the Gaza conflict. Shafik’sdeparturecomesjust a yearintoher tenure and shortlybefore the beginning of the autumnsemesterat the prestigiousIvyLeague institution in New York City. Sheisnow the thirdIvyLeaguepresident to resignamidcontroversy over the handling of Gaza-relatedprotests.
In April, Shafik made the contentiousdecision to allow New York Police Departmentofficers to intervene on campus, leading to the arrest of around 100 studentswhowereoccupying a university building. The incident marked the first large-scalearrests on Columbia’s campus since the Vietnam Warprotests over 50 yearsago and sparkedfurtherdemonstrationsacrossnumerouscolleges in the United States and Canada.
In a recent email to students and faculty, Shafikacknowledged the challenges facedduringherpresidency, statingthatit has been a “period of turmoil” that has deeplyaffectedher and herfamily. Katrina Armstrong, CEO of the Columbia University Irving Medical Center, has been appointed as the interimpresident.
Reflecting on herdecision, Shafikwrote, “Over the summer, I have had time to consider and believethatsteppingasidenowwill best position Columbia to face the challenges ahead.” Sheexpressed regret over the difficultcircumstancesthat have causeddistresswithin the universitycommunity, includingthreats and abuse directedatherself, colleagues, and students.
In April, Shafik defended Columbia’s efforts to combat antisemitism during a congressional hearing, acknowledging a rise in such incidents on campus. An economist of Egyptiandescent, Shafikpreviouslyheldprominentrolesat the World Bank, the International MonetaryFund, and the Bank of England. Beforeleading Columbia, sheserved as president of the London School of Economics.
In herresignationletter, Shafikmentionedthatshe has been invited by the UK ForeignSecretary to lead a review of the government’s international developmentstrategy, a rolesheiseager to take on whilereturning to the House of Lords. Herdeparturefollows the resignation of three Columbia deans, whofacedcriticism for exchangingtext messages containingwhatShafikdescribed as “antisemitic tropes.” These messages were made public by a congressionalcommittee in early July, promptingwidespreadcondemnation.
Meanwhile, universitiesacross the United States are preparing for the new academicyearamid the ongoingconflict in Gaza. A recent court ruling in California has ordered UCLA to preventprotestersfromblockingJewishstudentsfromaccessing campus facilities, following violent demonstrations in May.
