Columbia University President Resigns After Campus Protests

Minouche Shafik, the President of Columbia University in the United States, announced her resignation on Thursday, just four months after overseeing the university’s response to campus protests related to the Israeli assault on Gaza.

In an email to staff and students, Shafik acknowledged the challenges of navigating the diverse perspectives within the university community, noting that the recent period of unrest had taken a toll on her family and others at the university.

Shafik faced widespread criticism for her handling of the protests, particularly after she requested the intervention of the New York Police Department to disperse a sit-in by pro-Palestinian students who had taken over one of the university buildings.

Additionally, she called for an increased police presence on campus to manage any further demonstrations.

The controversy reached its peak when New York police entered Columbia’s campus and confronted students who had barricaded themselves in a building to protest the war in Gaza, following a request from Shafik.

Shafik's resignation highlights the ongoing tensions and complexities surrounding university leadership during times of political and social unrest.