Columbia University’s president Minouche Shafik resigned right before the fall semester of school began amid what she described as a “period of turmoil,” according to the New York Post.
“This period has taken a considerable toll on my family, as it has for others in our community,” Shafik said in a letter to the student body on Wednesday. Shafik is referencing anti-Israel protests that overtook the campus in April and May.
“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,” Shafik said. “I am making this announcement now so that new leadership can be in place before the new term begins.”
In the letter, Shafik stated that she wouldn’t just be leaving Columbia, she’d be leaving the country. Shafik is moving back to the United Kingdom, where she spent most of her career.
Shafik claims she was the victim of “threats and abuse” amid blowback to her handling of the anti-Israel protests and her infamous congressional testimony. While on Capitol Hill, Shafik — alongside three other Ivy League presidents — seemingly refused to condemn on-campus anti-semitism.
When Rep. Elise Stefanik asked the Ivy League presidents whether the phrase “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” is antisemitic, the presidents refused to answer. Following that testimony and Shafik’s inability to shut down on-campus protests, critics emerged.
Dr. Katrina Armstrong, the CEO of the Columbia University Irving Medical School, will step in as interim president for the upcoming school year. In a statement accepting the role, Armstrong acknowledged the ongoing problems facing Columbia.
“As I step into this role, I am acutely aware of the trials the University has faced over the past year. We should neither understate their significance, nor allow them to define who we are and what we will become,” Armstrong said.
