Minouche Shafik, the President of Columbia University, announced her resignation on Wednesday after a little more than a year in office, following months of criticism over her handling of campus protests related to Israel’s war in Gaza.
Her decision comes just weeks before the start of the new academic term, with Shafik citing the toll the ongoing campus turmoil has taken on her family as a key reason for stepping down. “This period has taken a considerable toll on my family, as it has for others in our community,” she stated in her resignation letter.
Shafik, who became Columbia’s first female president in July 2023, is the third Ivy League university president to resign in the wake of campus protests over Gaza. The protests, which have drawn criticism from both pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups, created an atmosphere of intense tension at Columbia.
In her resignation letter, Shafik acknowledged the challenges she faced, writing, “It has also been a period of turmoil where it has been difficult to overcome divergent views across our community.”
Earlier this year, Shafik was summoned before a House committee to answer questions about her handling of rising antisemitism on campus. As protests gathered momentum, she allowed New York City police to enter the campus in April, leading to the arrest of about 100 protesters. The decision sparked further outrage among students and academics, with calls for her resignation growing louder. Reflecting on the situation, Shafik remarked, “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.”
The timing of her resignation, just weeks before the new term begins, was unexpected. Katrina Armstrong, the CEO of the Columbia University Irving Medical Center, has been named interim president.
In her letter to the university community, Armstrong expressed her commitment to guiding the institution through these turbulent times, stating, “With optimism and resolve, let us move forward together, embracing the opportunity to renew our vision and strengthen our community.”
The protests at Columbia were part of a broader wave of demonstrations on college campuses across the U.S., sparked by the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israeli civilians and the subsequent war in Gaza.
Many protest groups, including Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine, called for their universities to divest from the financial support of Israel. The group welcomed Shafik’s resignation, posting on X, “After months of chanting ‘Minouche Shafik you can’t hide’ she finally got the memo.” They added, “To be clear, any future president who does not pay heed to the Columbia student body’s overwhelming demand for divestment will end up exactly as President Shafik did.”
Jewish student leaders, like Elisha Baker, expressed mixed feelings about Shafik’s departure. While acknowledging the significance of her resignation, Baker emphasized the importance of the university’s future direction, stating, “This is about the leadership and governance of Columbia University. The only thing that matters now is what happens next.” He further added, “I hope that Interim President Armstrong will assert strong leadership to keep Jewish students and all students safe, and to restore the values and the integrity of Columbia.”
In her resignation letter, Shafik underscored the importance of upholding Columbia’s values, such as free speech, openness to new ideas, and a commitment to zero tolerance for discrimination. “Even as tension, division, and politicization have disrupted our campus over the last year, our core mission and values endure and will continue to guide us in meeting the challenges ahead,” she wrote. Shafik also expressed her distress over the threats and abuse directed at her and others, citing Abraham Lincoln’s words, “A house divided against itself cannot stand,” as a reminder of the need to resist polarization within the community.
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Shafik’s decision to resign also includes her return to the United Kingdom, where she will chair a review of the government’s approach to international development. “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,” she wrote. “It also enables me to return to the House of Lords to reengage with the important legislative agenda put forth by the new UK government.”
Her tenure at Columbia was marked by significant challenges, but Shafik remains proud of the progress made in various areas during her leadership. “We have made progress in a number of important areas,” she noted. However, she also recognized the personal cost of leading the university through such a tumultuous period, adding, “It has been distressing — for the community, for me as president and on a personal level — to find myself, colleagues, and students the subject of threats and abuse.”
The Board of Trustees at Columbia expressed their regret at Shafik’s decision to step down but acknowledged the reasoning behind it. In a joint letter, co-chairs David Greenwald and Claire Shipman wrote, “While we are disappointed to see her leave us, we understand and respect her decision.” The university now faces the challenge of entering the new academic year under interim leadership amidst ongoing tensions and unresolved issues.
