CNN
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Columbia University President Minouche Shafik features in a letter Shafik sent to the Columbia community, obtained by CNN.
Shafik – an Egyptian-born economist and former senior official at the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and Bank of England, as well as a former president of the London School of Economics – had come under pressure over her handling of the protest camps on the Columbia University campus against the war between Israel and Hamas.
In her letter Wednesday, Shafik noted the progress made during her tenure, but said it was “also a time of unrest, during which it was difficult to overcome differing views in our community.”
“This time has been very demanding for my family and others in our community,” Shafik said in the letter. “Over the course of the summer, I have had time to reflect and have concluded that my departure at this point would best help Columbia meet the challenges ahead.”
“I have tried to find a way that upholds academic principles and treats everyone fairly and compassionately. It was disturbing – for the community, for me as president, and on a personal level – that I, my colleagues, and my students were subjected to threats and abuse,” Shafik said.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
