Columbia University President Shafik resigns over pro-Palestinian protests

Minouche Shafik, the president of Columbia University, has announced her resignation following fierce backlash over her decision to invite police to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters on campus.

In her resignation letter, which was made public on Wednesday night, Shafik acknowledged the tumultuous climate within the university community and the personal toll it had taken on her and her family.

“This has been a period of turmoil where it has been difficult to overcome divergent views across our community,” Shafik wrote, reflecting on the challenges she faced during her tenure. She emphasized her belief that stepping down would allow Columbia to better navigate the complexities ahead.

Shafik is now the third president of an Ivy League institution to resign in response to student-led demonstrations concerning the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Her departure follows the resignations of Liz Magill from the University of Pennsylvania in December 2023 and Claudine Gay from Harvard University in January 2024, who faced separate controversies, including accusations of plagiarism.

In the wake of her resignation, the Columbia Board of Trustees has appointed Katrina Armstrong, the chief of Columbia’s Irving Medical Center, as the interim president. The Board expressed confidence in Armstrong’s leadership during this challenging time, stating, “We believe that Katrina is the right leader for this moment.”

The protests at Columbia, with over 300 students arrested for erecting tents on campus lawns, were part of a broader outcry against the Israeli military’s actions in Gaza.

Tensions escalated when Shafik’s invitation to the New York police to intervene was met with criticism and further protests.

Political figures, including Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, weighed in on the situation, labeling Shafik’s resignation as “long overdue” and characterizing her presidency as “untenable.