Columbia University President Minouche Shafik, who was criticized for not taking strong enough measures against students who participated in the Gaza Solidarity Camp set up on the school campus to protest Israel’s attacks on Palestinian civilians, announced that he is resigning from his position. Shafik announced his resignation in a written statement.
“I have had the honor and privilege of leading this extraordinary institution, and I believe that by working together we have made progress in many important areas,” Shafik said in his statement, emphasizing that they have gone through a difficult time overcoming the different views. within the university community. He noted that his family has also paid a significant price during this process.
Shafik stated that he tries to adopt a “fair and compassionate” approach to everyone by supporting academic principles, but he is upset that he, his colleagues and students are seen as a “threat” to society.
Support from House Speaker Johnson
Meanwhile, US House Speaker Mike Johnson welcomed Shafik’s resignation. “As a result of President Shafik’s refusal to protect Jewish students and maintain order on campus, Columbia University has become the epicenter of the violent anti-Semitism that has afflicted so many American college campuses since Hamas’ barbaric attack on Israel last fall,” Johnson said in a written statement.
“While it has been long awaited, we welcome today’s news. Jewish students at Columbia who are starting this school year should breathe a sigh of relief,” Johnson said, recalling that Shafik asked him to resign in his office in April.
Protests and Resignations of Presidents at US Universities
On April 16, Columbia University students who support Palestine launched a sit-in on the campus lawn and set up tents called the Gaza Solidarity Camp to protest the school’s continued financial investments in companies that support Israel’s attacks and occupation of Gaza. On the second day of the protests, university president Minouche Shafik requested assistance from the New York Police Department (NYPD) to disperse the detectives, and the police entered the campus and arrested 108 students.
Most recently, on April 29, students occupied the school’s historic Hamilton Hall building after negotiations with the school administration reached a deadlock. A day later, upon the school administration’s request, NYPD riot police intervened against the students, evacuated the building, and dispersed the tent camp in the garden.
Columbia University President Minouche Shafik tested for 5 hours to the House Education and Labor Committee on April 17 over allegations that he “failed to protect Jewish students from anti-Semitism,” and was personally asked to resign by House Speaker Mike Johnson. Shafik resisted for a long time and completed the 2023-2024 academic year as president.
Previously, many university presidents in the country were questioned in the US Congress on similar grounds, and many presidents, such as those of Harvard and Pennsylvania universities, were forced to resign because they could not resist the pressure.
