Columbia President Resigns

Hey folks, gather 'round because there's been some major shake-ups at Columbia University, and it’s causing quite a stir. Columbia’s President, Minouche Shafik, has just resigned, and the timing couldn’t be more telling. Her sudden departure comes after the university was rocked by far-left pro-Hamas riots earlier this year that got so out of hand they nearly took over the campus.

Let’s set the scene: the riots escalated to the point where extremists actually occupied an entire building on Columbia’s campus in New York. It was a situation that got so out of control that a large number of NYPD officers were eventually called in to liberate the building. But here’s where it gets dicey—Shafik reportedly refused to let the police take action at first, which only added fuel to the fire.

In her resignation announcement, Shafik didn’t hold back, saying that the situation has taken “a considerable toll on my family, as it has for others in our community.” She mentioned that after reflecting over the summer, she decided that stepping down would be best for Columbia to face the challenges ahead. According to her, this move allows for new leadership to step in before the new term begins.

Now, not everyone is sad to see her go. House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik didn’t mince words, calling Shafik’s presidency a “failure” and her resignation “long overdue.”

Stefanik blasted Shafik for failing to protect Jewish students during the protests and accused her of negotiating with what she called “pro-Hamas terrorists.” Stefanik made it clear that stronger leadership is needed in American higher education, especially in terms of condemning antisemitism and protecting students and faculty.

Interestingly, Shafik already has her next gig lined up. She revealed that she’s been approached by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government to chair a review on international development. This new role would allow her to return to her roots in global poverty and sustainable development, and also reengage with the House of Lords in the UK. Shafik seems eager to get back into the mix in the UK, where Starmer’s government is currently facing some serious backlash over their handling of mass immigration and protests.

Meanwhile, this isn’t an isolated incident. Over at DePaul University, they’re dealing with the aftermath of similar protests that caused significant damage to their campus last spring.

The Quad at DePaul has been closed for repairs, racking up an estimated $180,000 in damages. And let’s not forget, this isn’t just about property damage—there were reports of harassment, antisemitism, and even weapons found at the protest encampments.

Colleges around the country, like the University of Illinois and others, are now making adjustments to handle these kinds of disruptions more effectively in the future. With fall classes just around the corner, some groups are already hinting that protests might ramp up again.