Columbia University President Minouche Shafik visits Hamilton Hall on the campus of Columbia University on May 1, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Indy Scholtens/Getty Images) Columbia University President Minouche Shafik announced on Aug. 14 that she is resigning from her position at the university.
In a message to member of the university community, Shafik wrote: “I have had the honor and privilege to lead this incredible institution, and I believe that — working together — we have made progress in a number of important areas. However, it has also been a period of turmoil where it has been difficult to overcome divergent views across our community. This period has taken a considerable toll on my family, as it has for others in our community. Over the summer, I have been able to reflect and have decided that my moving on at this point would best enable Columbia to traverse the challenges ahead. I am making this announcement now so that new leadership can be in place before the new term begins.”
Regarding her post-Columbia future, Shafik, an Egyptian-born British citizen, said she is “honored to have been asked by the UK’s Foreign Secretary to chair a review of the government’s approach to international development and how to improve capability,” she said. “I am very pleased and appreciative that this will afford me the opportunity to return to work on fighting global poverty and promoting sustainable development, areas of lifelong interest to me.”
Toward the end of her message, Shafik said that she has “tried to navigate a path that upholds academic principles and treats everyone with fairness and compassion. It has been distressing — for the community, for myself, colleagues, and students the subject of threats and abuse … I remain optimistic that differences can be overcome through the honest exchange of views, truly listening, and — always —-by treating each other with dignity and respect.” She concluded by saying that she believes “that Columbia’s future will be even more illustrious” going forward.
“Columbia University, once a jewel in the crown of higher education, has been exposed as ground zero for campus antisemitism in NYC. I hope the new leadership will summon the moral clarity and the moral courage to confront the deep rot of antisemitism at Columbia’s core.” -Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.)
The interim president will be Katrina Armstrong, CEO of the Columbia University Medical Center, reported the Columbia Daily Spectator.
Shafik has faced criticism and calls for her resignation for her handling of anti-Israel protests on campus — particularly regarding the encampment — as well as her April congressional testimony on campus antisemitism.
Washington Free Beacon reporter Aaron Sibarium noted in a post on X that “every Ivy League president who testified before Congress about anti-Semitism … has now resigned. And two of the three Ivy League presidents resigned in the wake of follow up scandals reported by the Free Beacon (plagiarism in the case of [former Harvard University President] Claudine Gay, texting-gate in the case of Minouche Shafik).”
Every Ivy League president who testified before Congress about anti-Semitism (technically MIT is not in the Ivy League) has now resigned. https://t.co/cf2rVOAXAS
— Aaron Sibarium (@aaronsibarium) August 15, 2024
And two of the three Ivy League presidents resigned in the wake of follow up scandals reported by the Free Beacon (plagiarism in the case of Claudine Gay, texting-gate in the case of Minouche Shafik).
— Aaron Sibarium (@aaronsibarium) August 15, 2024
“Texting-gate” is a reference to the three Columbia deans who resigned after the Free Beacon brought to light a series of text messages between the deans denigrating a panel on antisemitism. Preceding Gay’s resignation from Harvard was Liz Magill resigning from her position as president of the University of Pennsylvania after she was heavily criticized for her congressional testimony in December.
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), who garnered headlines for her grilling of university heads, including Shafik, posted on X, “As I have said consistently since her catastrophic testimony at the Education and Workforce Committee hearing, Columbia University’s President Minouche Shafik’s failed presidency was untenable and that [it] was only a matter of time before her forced resignation. After failing to protect Jewish students and negotiating with pro Hamas terrorists, this forced resignation is long overdue. We will continue to demand moral clarity, condemnation of antisemitism, protection of Jewish students and faculty, and stronger leadership from American higher education institutions.”
🚨🚨🚨 THREE DOWN, so many to go.
As I have said consistently since her catastrophic testimony at the Education and Workforce Committee hearing, Columbia University’s President Minouche Shafik’s failed presidency was untenable and that is was only a matter of time before her…
— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) August 14, 2024
Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) posted on X, “Columbia University, once a jewel in the crown of higher education, has been exposed as ground zero for campus antisemitism in NYC. I hope the new leadership will summon the moral clarity and the moral courage to confront the deep rot of antisemitism at Columbia’s core.”
Columbia University, once a jewel in the crown of higher education, has been exposed as ground zero for campus antisemitism in NYC.
I hope the new leadership will summon the moral clarity and the moral courage to confront the deep rot of antisemitism at Columbia’s core. pic.twitter.com/1U9k7W92yb
— Ritchie Torres (@RitchieTorres) August 15, 2024
Columbia student Eden Yadegar, president of the university’s Students Supporting Israel chapter, posted on X that people shouldn’t “think that this is a golden ticket to an instantly healed university. @Columbia is broken, and we will continue to hold them accountable. Let’s hope our next president is willing to do what Shafik wouldn’t: lead.”
President Shafik just announced her resignation, but don’t for a second think that this is a golden ticket to an instantly healed university. @Columbia is broken, and we will continue to hold them accountable. Let’s hope our next president is willing to do what Shafik wouldn’t:… pic.twitter.com/4RFsP06eHT
— Eden Yadegar (@edenyadegar) August 15, 2024
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