The embattled president of Columbia University, Minouche Shafik, has just quit amid mounting pressure over her handling of anti-Israel protests at the prestigious New York college.
Shafik announced her decision Wednesday in a letter addressed to the Columbia community.
Her resignation is effective immediately.
She stands down after facing a mounting backlash over her response to the anti-Israel protests and encampments that overtook Columbia’s campus in the spring.
The protests led to the cancelation of classes as well as the school’s main commencement ceremony in May.
Several of the college’s prominent donors also pulled funding from the school.
“I write with sadness to tell you that I am stepping down as president of Columbia University effective August 14, 2024,” she wrote.
“I have had the honor and privilege to lead this incredible institution, and I believe that—working together—we have made progress in a number of important areas.
“However, it has also been a period of turmoil where it has been difficult to overcome divergent views across our community.
“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.
“I am making this announcement now so that new leadership can be in place before the new term begins.”
While accepting Shafik’s resignation, the Board of Trustees announced Katrina Armstrong, chief executive officer of the Columbia University Irving Medical Center, will serve as the interim president.
“During my inauguration, I spoke of Columbia as an exemplar of a great 21st-century university committed to educating leaders and citizens, generating knowledge and ideas to solve problems, and engaging at the local and global level to deliver real impact in improving people’s lives,” Shafik said.
“As president, I have been proud to witness Columbia making so many contributions to delivering that vital mission.
“I also spoke about the values and principles which are dear to me and, I know, to the Columbia community as well: academic freedom and free speech; openness to ideas; and zero tolerance for discrimination of any kind—including gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, or ethnicity.
“This mission, and the values and principles underpinning it, constitute our North Star.
“Even as tension, division, and politicization have disrupted our campus over the last year, our core mission and values endure and will continue to guide us in meeting the challenges ahead.”
“I have tried to navigate a path that upholds academic principles and treats everyone with fairness and compassion,” she added.
“It has been distressing—for the community, for me as president, and on a personal level—to find myself, colleagues, and students the subject of threats and abuse.
“As President Lincoln said, ‘A house divided against itself cannot stand’—we must do all we can to resist the forces of polarization in our community.
“I remain optimistic that differences can be overcome through the honest exchange of views, truly listening, and—always—by treating each other with dignity and respect.
“Again, Columbia’s core mission to create and acquire knowledge, with our values as foundation, will lead us there.”
Shafik had been accused by Jewish students of allowing anti-Israel radicals to run amok on her campus with little intervention or discipline.
In May, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) demanded that Shafik resign if she couldn’t stand up to the agitators.
Johnson blasted Shafik’s leadership as “very weak” and “inept.”
Shafik testified before Congress in April about allegations of antisemitism on campus.
Her testimony was regarded as dismissive of the concerns of Jewish students.
She was accused of turning a blind eye to the anti-Jewish sentiment at Columbia while refusing to engage with their student groups.
House Republican Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) accused Shafik, at the time of attempting to “cover-up” for a “pro-terrorist” professor who had celebrated the Oct. 7 attacks.
Stefanik also called for Shafik’s removal after a mob of anti-Israel agitators took over an academic building.
The agitators held workers hostage, made demands to the university, and barricaded the building.
Shafik eventually caved and called the police for help.
However, critics accused her of dragging her feet while chaos ran rampant under her watch.
In her letter to the Columbia community, Armstrong wrote:
“I am deeply honored to be called to serve as interim president of our beloved institution…
“Challenging times present both the opportunity and the responsibility for serious leadership to emerge from every group and individual within a community.
“This is such a time at Columbia,” she said.
“As I step into this role, I am acutely aware of the trials the University has faced over the past year.
“We should neither understate their significance nor allow them to define who we are and what we will become.
“The familiar excitement and promise of a new academic year are informed this year by the presence of change and continuing concerns, but also by the immense opportunity to look forward, to join together for the laudable mission we are here to serve and to become our best selves individually and institutionally.
“Never has it been more important to train leaders capable of elevating society and addressing the complexity of modern life.
“Columbia University has a long history of meeting the moment, and I have faith that we will do so once again.”
“Much of this work will fall to the Columbia faculty,” she added.
“You are the ultimate keepers of the institution’s values and the stewards of its long and proud history.
“The habit of critical thinking and humility that gives birth to tolerance of contrary points of view is the most essential lesson taught in Columbia’s classrooms and the intellectual common ground that unifies the many scholarly pursuits found across our campuses.”
As for Sharik’s future plans, she wrote that she has been asked by the U.K.’s Foreign Secretary to chair a review of the government’s approach “to international development and how to improve capability.”
“I am very pleased and appreciative that this will afford me the opportunity to return to work on fighting global poverty and promoting sustainable development, areas of lifelong interest to me,” her letter said.
Shafik served as president of the Ivy League university for one year before stepping down.
She joins three other Ivy League university presidents who resigned in light of the anti-Israel campus unrest after facing allegations of mishandled antisemitism.
University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill resigned on December 9, 2023.
Harvard University President Claudine Gay stepped down on January 2, 2024.
Most recently, Cornell University President Martha Pollack “announced she would retire” on June 30, 2024.
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