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The chief of the University of Colombia resigned on Friday after harsh criticism of Ivy League’s decision to abolish President Donald Trump’s requests for reforms.
Katrina Armstrong, who was appointed after Minouche Shafik withdrew last August, will be replaced as a temporary president by Claire Shipman, a Graduate in Columbia who joined the trusted board in 2013.
Federal government officials suspended $ 400 million in Grants in Colombia this month and threatened to suspend all future funds unless the university agreed on the actions they claimed were needed to address the alleged anti -Semitism on the campus.
Columbia decided not to oppose the demands despite the arguments of the legal scholars that the government’s actions failed to respect the right process, and the concerns of the faculty that they threatened academic independence and freedom of speech.
She discovered concessions as she argued that she continued to defend academic integrity. “We will always be guided by our principles of free expression, academic freedom and pursuit of perfection,” Armstrong said at the time.
Armstrong, who will resume her preliminary role as head of the University Irving Medical Center, said Friday: “I am proud to have worked with the extraordinary faculty, students and alumni. But my heart is with science, and my passion is with healing. This is where I can serve this university and our community.”
Shipman said: “Columbia’s new permanent president, when elected that individual, will develop a proper review of the university team and management structure to ensure that we are best positioned for the future.”
Armstrong was squeezed between the need to protect the university from further attacks and funding cuts, and pressure from the faculty and students on measures to meet government demands.
The faculties have complained that they had not been consulted adequately and their decisions were overthrown. Students, meanwhile, faced tight campus security and concerns about the threat of arresting and expulsion of current and previous students led by Mahmoud Khalil, an activist who participated in protests against Israeli’s military attack on Gaza.
Armstrong at the beginning of this week said: “We must continue to work to restore public confidence for the fundamental value of higher education for the nation and the long partnership between basic universities such as Columbia and the Federal Government. Suggested these measures are illusory, or do not have my personal support, is uninitiated.”
Colombia’s believers thanked Armstrong and, in defense of their latest decisions, said: “Our goal has been to demonstrate the important advances we have taken, discuss plans for the following months, and present decisions directed by Colombia made in accordance with our values and mission.
The university tried to prevent lawsuits that challenged the Trump administration actions. But earlier this week, two national organizations representing teachers and university professors launched a lawsuit against government demands.
The White House has not yet restored $ 400 million in Colombia, and increased attacks on other universities.
