After only a year in the work, Columbia University President Minouche Shafik announced her departure on Wednesday, calling her departure “turmoil” and” toll.”
Shafik is now the fifth Ivy League president in nine months, joining Liz Magill, the president of the University of Pennsylvania, Claudine Gay, the president of Cornell University, and Martha Pollack, the latter of whom characterized her as a retirement.
All of these presidents have presided over tumultuous occasions on their campuses since the terrorist attacks on Israeli citizens on October 7 and Israel’s reply, which sparked widespread antisemitism and pro-Palestinian school riots that roiled their institutions, as well as criticisms that the protests were ill handled.
In Shafik’s situation, she oversaw a college that was the scene of some of the nation’s most violent and hostile anti-Israel demonstrations, which involved hundreds of students who gathered outside the building and barricaded themselves inside. The turmoil prompted Columbia to cancel is completion service, citing safety concerns.
Undaunted, about 25 anti-Israel activists crashed Columbia’s students meeting occurrence in May on the South Lawn, putting up houses and hanging flags, one of which read” We’re Up Bitches”.
Most recently, this month, the room tower of Columbia University’s chief operating officer was vandalized by anti-Israel protesters, and included red ink, live crickets and larvae.
Three of the four Columbia University officials who were mocking Jews and individuals in a series of writings resigned this quarter.
In her statement, a version of which was obtained by the Washington Free Beacon, Shafik said it was all very little:
I’m sad to let you know that I will step down as Columbia University’s president successful on August 14, 2024. It has also been challenging to override different viewpoints within our community during this turbulent time. My family and I have taken a lot of strain during this time, while have people in our society. Over the summer, I have had time to reflect and had determined that moving on at this point may best help Columbia to face the challenges that lie ahead. In order for new leadership to become established before the new word begins, I’m making this statement right away.
After Shafik testified in front of Congress in April about her school’s response to hatred, she “ordained the removal of camps on school” and received large criticism from protesters and deluged by faculty members for calling in the NYPD without first discussing with the school’s senate.
She even received criticism from Jewish organizations and individuals for allowing the camps, which were staging demonstrations against Israel’s occupation of Gaza, to walk for time before being taken down. Israeli students reported that protestors at the camp allegedly intimidated and antisemitically.
Shafik may be replaced by Katrina Armstrong, CEO of Columbia’s Irving Medical Center and professor of the university’s medical university, on an interval base, the Washington Free Beacon reported.
MORE: Columbia supervisor’s house developing vandalized by anti-Israel activists
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