Speaker of the House Mike Johnson called for Columbia University President Minouche Shafik’s resignation after the university announced it was cancelling commencement ceremonies amidst unprecedented pro-Palestinian and anti-Jewish protests across campus in recent weeks.
In lieu of the university’s two main commencement ceremonies, Columbia will host “Class Days and school ceremonies” on the South Lawn of Morningside campus. A majority of the college’s ceremonies will be hosted at Columbia’s Baker Athletics Complex, per a Monday announcement.
“We are eager to all come together for our graduates and celebrate our fellow Columbians as they, and we, look ahead to the future,” the announcement read.
The Speaker called for Shafik’s resignation in response to an Axios article on the cancelled commencement ceremonies.
“President Shafik and Columbia University administrators have displayed a shocking unwillingness to control their campus,” Johnson wrote. “They’ve allowed outside agitators and terrorist-sympathizing students and faculty to rewrite campus rules and spew vile anti-Jewish aggression. Now, thousands of students who’ve worked hard to achieve their degrees will not get the recognition they deserve.”
“It is abundantly clear that President Shafik would rather cede control to Hamas supporters than restore order, Columbia’s Board of Trustees should immediately remove her and appoint a new president who will,” Johnson added.
“Our once great universities desperately need strong moral leadership, now more than ever,” the Speaker concluded.
Last month, Speaker Johnson called for Shafik’s resignation while speaking at Columbia University if she could not “immediately bring order to [the] chaos.”
“As Speaker of the House, I am committing today that the Congress will not be silent as Jewish students are expected to run for their lives and stay home from their classes hiding in fear,” Johnson continued. “In the House of Representatives, we’ve already acted to address anti-Semitism on campuses. We have passed a number of statutes to address this matter, and we call upon the U.S. Senate to act upon our legislation.”
Shortly after Johnson’s visit to Columbia University, the college’s Board of Trustees issued a statement announcing their support for Shafik.
“President Shafik told us that she would always take a thoughtful approach to resolving conflict, balancing the disparate voices that make up a vibrant campus like Columbia’s, while taking a firm stance against hatred, harassment and discrimination,” the board wrote. “That’s exactly what she’s doing now. We are urgently working with her to help resolve the situation on campus and rebuild the bonds of our community; we encourage everyone who cares about Columbia to join us in that effort.”
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