Columbia University President Resigns Over Gaza Protests

The Facts

• Columbia University President Minouche Shafik resigned from her post Wednesday, citing the "considerable toll" on her and her family after she received sustained criticism — in addition to threats and abuse — for her handling of the Gaza protests that broke out on the university campus.

• In becoming the third Ivy League president to step down over the protests, she was criticized by pro-Israel and pro-Palestine factions alike. On one hand, for allegedly failing to protect Jewish students. On the other, for allowing officers from the New York Police Department to enter the campus in order to breakup the student encampments, leading to hundreds of arrests.

• Announcing her resignation weeks before students returned for the new academic year, Shafik described her time as an honor and a privilege and said that the community made progress in a number of important areas. "However, it has also been a period of turmoil where it has been difficult to overcome divergent views across our community," she added.