Columbia’s president steps aside for new leadership at embattled university | US universities
The university said in a statement on Friday that the interim president of Colombia University, Katrina Armstrong, interferes aside and the co -chair of its Board of Trustees, Claire Sheepman, was appointed as the Acting President.
The University of Colombia said that Armstrong is returning to the leadership of the university’s medical center in Colombia, adding: “The President of the Board of Trustees, Claire Sheepman, was appointed to the prosecution, and he will work immediately, and will work until the Board of Directors completes his presidential research.”
In announcing the change of leadership, David Greenwald, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, said: “Katrina has always gave her heart and spirit to Colombia. We are able to serve her and look forward to her continuous contributions to the university.”
SHIPMAN has worked as a co -chair of the Council since 2023 and has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2013. She is a journalist and author, who holds two degrees from Colombia.
“I assume this role with a clear understanding of the serious challenges before us, the fixed commitment to the act of urgency, integrity, and work with our faculty members to enhance our mission, implement the necessary reforms, protect our students, support academic freedom and open investigation.
Armstrong’s sudden departure comes just one week from the university Surrender From the Trump administration, after withdrawing $ 400 million of federal financing, amid allegations that the school was tolerant with anti -Semitism on the campus.
The university issued a memorandum specifying its agreement with the Trump administration hours hours before the deadline set by the government. The memo placed measures, including prohibiting face materials on the campus, enabling security personnel to remove or arrest individuals, and control the section that offers courses in the Middle East from faculty members.
Among the most controversial demands, Colombia agreed to put the Department of Studies in the Middle East, South Asia and Africa under a new official. The new first vice president will review the school’s programs to ensure “comprehensive and balanced offers.”
The demand for warning between professors in Colombia and other places, who worried that allowing the federal government to dictate how the administration operates a dangerous precedent. Law advocates have been called an attack on freedom of expression.
Armstrong had entered this role after the former president, Minosh Shavek, resigned after her scrutiny in dealing with the protests and the campus departments on the Israeli war of Gaza.
Reuters contributed to this report
