Columbia University president resigns amidst growing controversy over anti-Israel demonstrations.

Columbia University's president, Minouche Shafik, has resigned immediately, as confirmed by Planet Chronicle Digital.

On Wednesday, Shafik made her decision to resign from her position at Columbia after receiving numerous demands to step down due to her handling of the anti-Israel protests that occurred on campus following the October 7 massacre by Hamas.

"I am stepping down as president of Columbia University effective August 14, 2024, with a sense of sadness. It has been an honor and privilege to lead this remarkable institution, and I believe we have made significant progress in several important areas. However, this period has also been marked by turmoil, making it challenging to reconcile differing perspectives within our community," she wrote.

My family, like many others in our community, has been significantly affected by this period. After careful reflection, I have decided that it is best for me to move on at this time, allowing Columbia to face the challenges ahead. I am making this announcement now to ensure a smooth transition and allow new leadership to take over before the new term begins.

She continued, "I appreciate the support of the Board of Trustees and am committed to working with the Interim President for a smooth transition. I want to thank the deans, University Leadership Team, and staff of the President's Office for their outstanding work this past year, which has greatly benefited our students, faculty, researchers, staff, and community."

In my inauguration, I highlighted Columbia as a model of a top 21st-century university that educates leaders and citizens, generates knowledge and solutions to problems, and engages locally and globally to create a positive impact on people's lives. As president, I have been proud to see Columbia making significant contributions to fulfilling this mission. I also emphasized the values and principles that are essential to me and the Columbia community: academic freedom and free speech; openness to diverse ideas; and zero tolerance for discrimination based on gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, or ethnicity. These values and principles form our guiding principles, and even amidst the tension, division, and politicization that have disrupted our campus in the past year, they remain our compass, guiding us in overcoming the challenges ahead.

I have striven to maintain academic principles and treat everyone with fairness and compassion while serving as president. However, it has been distressing for the community, for me personally, and for my colleagues and students to become targets of threats and abuse. As President Lincoln stated, "A house divided against itself cannot stand," and we must work to resist the forces of polarization in our community. Despite the challenges, I remain optimistic that differences can be resolved through open dialogue, active listening, and always treating each other with dignity and respect. Columbia's mission to create and acquire knowledge, guided by our values, will lead us to overcome these challenges.

"I want to thank the entire Columbia community for their support and understanding. This is truly one of the world’s great institutions with a proud history and legacy of achievement. Having come to know and work with the amazing people here—passionate, intelligent, committed—I have no doubt that Columbia’s future will be even more illustrious. That is what we owe each other."

Shafik has been accused by Jewish students of failing to intervene or discipline anti-Israel radicals on her campus, prompting House Speaker Mike Johnson to call her leadership "very weak" and "inept" in May.

The U.K.'s Foreign Secretary has asked Shafik to lead a review of the government's approach to international development and ways to enhance its capabilities.

Her letter states that she is pleased and appreciative for the opportunity to return to work on fighting global poverty and promoting sustainable development, which are areas of lifelong interest to her.

She was president of the Ivy League university for one year before resigning.