Columbia University students and graduates have filed a lawsuit seeking tens of millions of dollars in damages after pro-terror demonstrations disrupted campus life and led to the cancellation of classes and commencement ceremonies. The plaintiffs accuse the university and its administrators of failing to protect Jewish students and allowing anti-Semitism to flourish on campus.
Amidst the turmoil surrounding Columbia University's handling of anti-Israel protests, former president Minouche Shafik has resigned effective August 14, 2024. Shafik's decision follows repeated calls for her to step down after facing accusations of mishandling the campus unrest, which resulted in the occupation of academic buildings, the cancellation of classes, and threats against Jewish students.
Columbia Students Sue for Millions in Damages Over Pro-Terror Protests
The embattled university has now appointed Katrina Armstrong, chief executive officer of the Columbia University Irving Medical Center, as interim president. Armstrong has pledged to address the challenges facing the institution, including the pervasive antisemitism that has plagued the campus in recent years.
Former Columbia University president Minouche Shafik has stepped down after facing mounting pressure over her handling of anti-Israel campus protests. The university has appointed Katrina Armstrong as interim president. Shafik's resignation follows a series of anti-Israel protests and encampments that disrupted campus life in the spring, leading to the cancelation of classes and the school's main commencement ceremony in May.
Columbia Students Sue for Millions in Damages Over Pro-Terror Protests
Jewish students have accused Shafik of allowing anti-Israel radicals to run amok on campus with little intervention or discipline. In April, House Speaker Mike Johnson demanded that Shafik resign if she couldn't stand up to the agitators, calling her leadership "very weak" and "inept."
Shafik testified before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce in April about allegations of antisemitism on campus. Her testimony was regarded as dismissive of the concerns of Jewish students, who accused her of turning a blind eye to the anti-Jewish sentiment at Columbia while refusing to engage with their student groups.
Columbia Students Sue for Millions in Damages Over Pro-Terror Protests
Columbia's next leader faces the daunting task of addressing the pervasive antisemitism, support for terrorism, and contempt for the university's rules that have been allowed to flourish on its campus. Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., chair of the House Education and Workforce Committee, said the university's next leader must "take bold action to address the pervasive antisemitism, support for terrorism, and contempt for the university's rules that have been allowed to flourish."
In her letter to the Columbia community, Armstrong acknowledged the challenges facing the university and pledged to work towards a better future. "Challenging times present both the opportunity and the responsibility for serious leadership to emerge from every group and individual within a community. This is such a time at Columbia," Armstrong wrote.
Columbia Students Sue for Millions in Damages Over Pro-Terror Protests
Columbia University has a long history of meeting the challenges of its time, and I have faith that we will do so once again," Armstrong added. "Much of this work will fall to the Columbia faculty. You are the ultimate keepers of the institution's values and the stewards of its long and proud history."
Shafik's resignation joins a growing list of Ivy League university presidents who have stepped down after facing allegations of mishandling antisemitism amid campus unrest. Liz Magill of the University of Pennsylvania, Claudine Gay of Harvard University, and Martha Pollack of Cornell University have all resigned in recent months.
The student lawsuit against Columbia alleges that the university "failed to provide adequate security and protection to its Jewish students" and that it "created a hostile environment" for Jewish students by allowing anti-Israel protesters to occupy campus buildings and disrupt classes. The plaintiffs are seeking tens of millions of dollars in damages for the emotional and psychological harm they suffered as a result of the university's actions.
The lawsuit is the latest in a series of legal challenges filed against universities across the country for their handling of antisemitism on campus. In recent years, several universities have been accused of violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of national origin, including antisemitism.
