The Columbia University Board of Trustees threw its support behind embattled President Minouche Shafik, praising her handling of anti-Israel unrest shortly after House Speaker Mike Johnson called for her resignation in an on-campus address.
“The Columbia University Board of Trustees strongly supports President Shafik as she steers the university through this extraordinarily challenging time,” said the board in a late Wednesday statement.
“During the search process for this role, President Shafik told us that she would always take a thoughtful approach to resolving conflict, balancing the disparate voices that make up a vibrant campus like Columbia’s, while taking a firm stance against hatred, harassment and discrimination,” the statement said. “That’s exactly what she’s doing now.”
Ms. Shafik, who took the top job in July, faces rising demands for her resignation from members of Congress, culminating in the House Republican delegation that arrived Wednesday to visit with Jewish students and hold a press conference denouncing campus antisemitism and the protests roiling the Manhattan campus.
“I’m here today joining my colleagues and calling on President Shafik to resign if she cannot immediately bring order to this chaos,” said Mr. Johnson at the Wednesday press conference on the steps of the Low Memorial Library.
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, New York Republican, said Ms. Shafik “cannot and will not hold students who are doing these types of antisemitic activities accountable,” nor keep Jewish students safe.
SEE ALSO: Speaker Johnson confronts Columbia protesters, calls on university president to resign
“That is why I join my colleagues in calling for her resignation,” Ms. Malliotakis said.
Ms. Shafik gave the protesters until midnight Tuesday to agree to a plan to disband the vast “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” on the school’s West Lawn, but extended the deadline to Friday after students agreed to take down some tents and remove outsiders.
“We are urgently working with her to help resolve the situation on campus and rebuild the bonds of our community; we encourage everyone who cares about Columbia to join us in that effort,” said the board.
The board’s show of support was reminiscent of similar statements issued in December by the Harvard Corporation on behalf of Harvard President Claudine Gay, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Corporation on behalf of President Sally Kornbluth.
Despite the Harvard board’s support, Ms. Gay resigned Jan. 2 amid criticism of her handling of campus antisemitism and allegations of plagiarism. Ms. Kornbluth remains president of MIT.
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.
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