The president of Columbia University, Nemat “Minouche” Shafik, announced her resignation after facing criticism over protests on campus related to the war in Gaza. She had been criticized by both anti-war protesters and House Republicans, and faced questions about handling antisemitism on campus during a House committee appearance in April. Shafik mentioned progress made during her tenure but said it had been a period of turmoil that took a toll on her family. The resignation is effective immediately, and Katrina Armstrong has been named interim president. Protest groups, including Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine, had called for Shafik’s resignation. The protests erupted at many U.S. college campuses following terror attacks by Hamas and the subsequent war in Gaza. Shafik highlighted Columbia’s core values of free speech, openness to new ideas, and zero tolerance for discrimination as she announced her resignation. The resignations of other university presidents, including at University of Pennsylvania and Harvard, after facing criticism over campus issues, were also mentioned. Republican lawmakers had targeted university presidents over campus demonstrations and antisemitism. Overall, Shafik’s resignation at Columbia reflects a broader trend of university leaders facing pressure and criticism over campus-related issues.
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Months after the protests over Israel-Hamas war, President Minouche Shafik resigns from Columbia University
