Columbia University faculty approve resolution declaring no confidence in President Shafik

Columbia University faculty in the arts and sciences on Thursday approved a resolution of no confidence in President Minouche Shafik, who has come under national scrutiny for her handling of pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus.

Sixty-five percent of the 709 professors who voted baked the resolution while 29% opposed and 6% abstained, Politico reported. The university maintains more than 4,600 employees and up to 900 were eligible to vote on the matter.

The resolution accused Shafik of treading upon academic freedom and took exception to her use of police to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters.

"President Shafik’s violation of the fundamental requirements of academic freedom and shared governance, and her unprecedented assault on students’ rights, warrants unequivocal and emphatic condemnation," it reads. "President Shafik also violated the fundamental obligations of shared governance when she ignored the opinions of the faculty and students on the Senate Executive Committee who unanimously rejected her request to summon armed New York City police onto our campus."

"Twelve days later, President Shafik compounded the damage by choosing again to call the police to arrest student protesters. This decision was made without consultation with the University Senate," it went on.

In late April, demonstrators seized control of Hamilton Hall and barricaded themselves within. The New York Police Department subsequently removed them from the premises.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.