Katrina Armstrong, the interim president of Columbia University, resigned from her place just days after agreeing to a school mask restrictions in response to stress from the Trump management while personally promising faculty that she would not impose it.
Following a contentious argument over the Ivy League university’s federal funding, Armstrong’s resignation was announced on Friday night. The Trump administration had threatened to remove$ 400 million unless the school complied with a number of measures, including the restrictions on masks during school protests.
Armstrong stated in a text to faculty and students that she would step down as Columbia’s Irving Medical Center’s chief executive officer.
It has been a distinct honor to be the head of Columbia University at this crucial and challenging time,” she wrote.
I’m glad to have worked with remarkable faculty, students, and alumni because this is one of the best universities in the world, in its most important city. But recovery is what I love to do, and research is what I love to do. Moving forward, I want to best assist this academy and our society.
With fast result, Columbia’s board of trustees appointed co-chair Claire Shipman as acting leader. The school confirmed in a declaration, which was cited by the New York Post, that she will be in the position until a permanent replacement is named.
Armstrong’s departure came after the school’s contentious decision last week to impose the White House-backed measures despite downplaying the policy privately. A total ban on faces at protests was included in the government’s assault, which was intended to stop anti-semitism on school.
In the end, Columbia agreed to the mission and had a month to agree.
