Interim Columbia College President Katrina Armstrong has stepped down amidst a conflict with the Trump administration over federal funding.
“Dr. Armstrong accepted the function of interim president at a time of nice uncertainty for the College and labored tirelessly to advertise the pursuits of our neighborhood,” mentioned David J. Greenwald, chair of the board of trustees, in a information launch late Friday. “Katrina has at all times given her coronary heart and soul to Columbia. We admire her service and stay up for her continued contributions to the College.”
Fox Information additionally confirmed that board of trustees co-chair Claire Shipman has been appointed because the performing college president till the board completes its presidential search. Shipman has been on the board since 2013.
Armstrong is anticipated to return to steer the college’s Irving Medical Heart, Fox Information additionally discovered.
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY YIELDS TO TRUMP ADMIN DEMANDS OVER REVOKED $400M IN FEDERAL FUNDING
Anti-Israel scholar protesters collect inside their encampment on the Columbia College campus, April 29, 2024, in New York Metropolis. (AP Picture/Stefan Jeremiah)
“Now just isn’t the time for Columbia College to regress as it really works to fight the rampant antisemitism plaguing the college. Thus far Columbia has largely didn’t uphold its dedication to Jewish college students and college – leaving them to face harassment, intimidation, and even assault,” Schooling and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg, R-Mich., said in a statement.
“Fortunately, the Trump administration is ushering in an period of widespread sense, and this Committee is working diligently alongside it to proceed the momentum we’ve created in addressing antisemitism,” Walberg mentioned. “However the college and its directors should put within the work to fight this evil. Ms. Shipman, whereas we want you all good success, we will probably be watching carefully.”
The Trump administration just lately pulled $400 million in federal funding from Columbia College with the crucial that Armstrong make substantial modifications on campus.
The proposed settlement, summarized in a letter shared by Armstrong, “outlines the substantive work” that Columbia has undertaken since final August when former President Minouche Shafik stepped down.
“The way in which Columbia and Columbians have been portrayed is difficult to reckon with. We now have challenges, sure, however they don’t outline us. We train the brightest, most artistic college students on this planet, and we care deeply for every considered one of them. I’ve each religion in our potential to beat the best of challenges. We stand resilient and sensible,” Armstrong wrote.
HAWLEY BLASTS ‘INSANE’ LIBERAL ATTORNEY DURING SENATE HEARING ON CAMPUS ANTISEMITISM
Columbia College’s Gaza encampment, left, and President Trump. (Getty Photos)
Columbia agreed to calls for from the administration to ban masks for the aim of concealing identification on campus in addition to appoint a senior vice provost to supervise the college’s Division of the Center East, South Asian and African Research, in addition to the Heart for Palestine Research.
After a lot violence on campus, Columbia should additionally rent 36 new campus cops with the power to arrest college students.
Per the Trump administration, these agreements are merely a “precondition for formal negotiations relating to Columbia College’s continued monetary relationship with the USA authorities.”
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT RESIGNS AFTER MONTHS OF MOUNTING PRESSURE OVER ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTS
Columbia was on the coronary heart of 2024’s anti-Israel campus protests, with NYPD officers finally breaking apart a barricade at Hamilton Corridor in a extremely publicized raid.
In a letter known as “Fulfilling our Commitments” launched earlier this week, Katrina Armstrong clarified that “demonstrations and different protest actions that happen inside educational buildings and locations the place educational actions happen current a direct obstacle to sustaining our core educational mission.”
A scholar appears at harm to the home windows of a door at Hamilton Corridor at Columbia College, April 30, 2024, in New York Metropolis. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Photos)
“Primarily based upon the expertise of peer colleges, Columbia is clarifying that such protests in educational buildings, and different locations needed for the conduct of College actions, are usually not acceptable below the Guidelines of College Conduct due to the chance of disrupting educational actions.”
Present performing president Claire Shipman has written 4 New York Occasions bestselling books, together with The Confidence Code, The Confidence Code for Women, Dwelling the Confidence Code and Womenomics.
Shipman has a brand new e-book popping out in June centered on girls and energy, titled “The Energy Code.”
Armstrong stepped in after former Columbia president Minouche Shafik resigned in August amid claims of institutional antisemitism.
On the time, Home Speaker Mike Johnson mentioned, “We hope that President Shafik’s resignation serves for example to school directors throughout the nation that tolerating or defending antisemites is unacceptable and could have penalties.”
Fox Information’ Louis Casiano, Alexis McAdams and Yael Halon contributed to this report.
