Just before the start of the new scientific time, Minouche Shafik resigned as president of Columbia University, according to US press. Her departure comes in the wake of significant national scrutiny following pro-Palestinian demonstrations at the school and another campus locations across the country.
The demonstrations, which erupted in response to US assistance for Israel’s battle against Hamas in Gaza, became a battleground in conversations about Israel and Palestine. At Columbia, critics accused the demonstrations of veering into anti-Semitism and harassment, leading to Shafik being questioned before Congress alongside another college presidents. They were accused of failing to protect the safety of Israeli students on campus.
Protesters claimed that anti-Israel attitude and anti-Semitism were being used to divert attention from calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, including some Jews, and that the criticisms were making up for the violence.
In an email to the Columbia area, Shafik wrote,” Over the summer, I have been able to reflect and had determined that moving on at this juncture would best enable Columbia to face the challenges that lie ahead.” According to the Columbia Spectator, she emphasized her desire for new authority to be in position before the scientific term begins.
Houses were occupied during the protests across the country and occasionally there were officers confrontations. Pro-Israel counter-protesters also clashed with protesters at days. US House Speaker Mike Johnson, who had previously condemned the demonstrations as “terrorism”, welcomed Shafik’s resignation in a speech on Wednesday.
The continuing conflict in Gaza has resulted in significant deaths, with Hamas’s assault on October 7 shooting 1, 198 citizens in Israel, according to AFP. Israel’s hostile actions have led to the deaths of at least 39, 965 citizens in Gaza, as reported by the state’s health department, without distinguishing between citizens and militants.
