Columbia University president resigns amid tensions with US government

(CLO) Ms. Katrina Armstrong, acting president of Columbia University, has resigned amid a conflict with the administration of US President Donald Trump regarding federal funding.

Ms Armstrong was only appointed acting president of Columbia University after her predecessor, Minouche Shafik, resigned in August last year following months of criticism over her handling of campus protests over the war in Gaza.

Claire Shipman, co-chair of the Board of Trustees, has been appointed as the new acting principal until the board completes its search for a permanent principal.

After resigning, Ms. Armstrong is expected to return to lead Columbia University Irving Medical Center. The Trump administration recently withdrew $400 million in federal funding from Columbia University.

Columbia University website homepage. Screenshot.

"Now is not the time for Columbia University to retreat in the fight against rampant anti-Semitism on campus," said Rep. Tim Walberg, chairman of the Education and Labor Committee. "The university has failed to protect Jewish students and faculty — leaving them exposed to harassment, intimidation, and even attack."

After months of conflict, Columbia University has accepted demands from the Trump administration, including: Banning students from wearing face masks on campus; Appointing a senior vice provost to oversee the Department of Middle Eastern, South Asian and African Studies, as well as the Center for Palestine Studies; Hiring 36 additional police officers with the power to arrest students on campus.

The Trump administration has stressed that the terms are only a prerequisite for formal negotiations on restoring federal funding to the school.

In a letter titled “Fulfilling the Commitment” released earlier this week, Ms. Armstrong made it clear that: “Protests and protest activities taking place inside academic buildings and areas that serve the core educational purposes of the school directly interfere with Columbia’s teaching mission.”

She also stressed that based on the experience of other universities, Columbia University needs to adopt stricter regulations to prevent protests from disrupting academic activities.

Cao Phong (according to FOX, CNN)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/hieu-truong-dai-hoc-columbia-tu-chuc-giua-cang-thang-voi-chinh-quyen-my-post340601.html