Minouche Shafik, the president of Columbia University, has resigned amid the unrest that followed the Gaza war. Her resignation, announced on Wednesday, 14 August, precedes the start of the academic year by mere weeks, and marks the end of her roughly one-year tenure. Shafik’s decision follows intense and ongoing criticism of her response to pro-Palestinian protests that have significantly impacted the university since October 2023. In her resignation statement, she expressed, “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,” she added. “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.” With her resignation, four out of the eight Ivy League university presidents have now stepped down following controversies related to the Gaza war. The presidents of the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard University resigned after receiving widespread criticism. Later, the president of Cornell University also stepped down. Shafik announced that her…
Columbia University President Minouche Shafik Resigns Over Gaza War Unrest
August 15, 2024
