New York GOP delegation urges Columbia University president to resign over handling of protests

Rep. Elise Stefanik Monday led a delegation of New York Republican lawmakers in a call for Columbia University President Minouche Shafik to resign, arguing she has created a climate of “lax enforcement” that allows “outside agitators” to “operate with impunity.”

The letter the delegation sent to Shafik on Monday talks about the pro-Palestinian “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” that has been on the New York City campus since Wednesday.

The protest followed Shafik’s testimony last week before the House Committee on Education and Workforce, in which Shafik said that Columbia strives to be a community free of discrimination.

“This unsanctioned mob of students and agitators being permitted to continue to target Jewish students has led to several documented incidents of despicable antisemitic harassment and calls for violence and terrorism since your testimony about enforcing the consequences,” the delegation’s letter states, referring to Shafik’s testimony before the House committee.

The delegation argues that order will only be restored with Shafik’s “prompt resignation.”