Columbia University president resigns after Gaza protests turmoil

Columbia University President Minouche Shafik resigned on August 14, 2024, following intense criticism over her handling of campus protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict. The protests, which began in April, saw students occupying campus spaces in opposition to Israel's actions in Gaza. Shafik's decision to call in the New York Police Department to remove protesters led to the arrests of hundreds of students, a move that was highly controversial and marked the first mass arrests on the Columbia campus since the Vietnam War era.

Shafik, who was the first woman to serve as Columbia's president, cited the deep divisions within the university community and the toll on her family as key factors in her decision to step down. Her resignation is the third among Ivy League presidents amid similar controversies linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Katrina Armstrong, the CEO of Columbia University Irving Medical Center, has been named interim president.

Shafik will return to the UK to lead a government review on international development, a role that aligns with her previous experiences, including leadership positions at the London School of Economics, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund�.

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