Minouche Shafik, the president of Columbia University, has resigned amid criticism over her handling of campus protests surrounding the war in Gaza. In an email to staff and students, Shafik cited the toll the period of turmoil had taken on her family and the community, leading to her decision to step down. The unexpected resignation comes just weeks before the start of the fall semester.
Pro-Palestinian protesters celebrated near the university following the news, while members of the Columbia community voiced their support for the change in leadership. Shafik will be moving on to accept a role with the UK’s foreign secretary, chairing a review of the government’s approach to international development.
The board of trustees at Columbia expressed disappointment at Shafik’s departure but respected her decision, announcing Katrina Armstrong as the interim president. Armstrong acknowledged the challenges faced by the university in the past year but emphasized the importance of not letting these challenges define the institution.
Shafik’s tenure was marked by controversy, including highly publicized hearings regarding allegations of on-campus antisemitism and her decision to involve the New York police department in response to student protests. The university was seen as the epicenter of student-led pro-Palestinian protests, igniting similar demonstrations at other universities in the US and globally.
Shafik urged the community to resist polarization, quoting President Lincoln’s words that “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” Columbia University now faces a period of transition as it navigates the challenges ahead with new leadership.
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