Capital District Times

Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Elise Stefanik has called on the Trustees of Columbia University to take immediate action to remove President Minouche Shafik from her position following a recent incident where a mob overtook a university building. In a letter addressed to Trustees Co-Chairs David Greenwald and Claire Shipman, Stefanik expressed her concerns and urged for the safety of students, faculty, and staff to be secured.

Stefanik highlighted the seriousness of the situation by stating, “After midnight on April 30, 2024, the preventable chaos that has engulfed Columbia University’s campus for weeks escalated to a new level, and Hamilton Hall was stormed, defaced, and taken over by a pro-Hamas mob.” She emphasized that the actions of the mob, including holding facilities workers hostage, barricading the building, and issuing demands, were beyond the boundaries of free speech.

The Congresswoman criticized President Shafik for what she deemed as a failure to address antisemitism on campus effectively, stating, “This violence is a direct result of the appeasement policies President Minouche Shafik has used to address antisemitism on campus. President Shafik has allowed campus to be taken by mob rule, and she must immediately be removed so this occupation can be met with swift and overwhelming response to retake campus, restore order, and protect Jewish students.”

Stefanik concluded by labeling President Shafik's actions as a “dereliction of duty” and accused her of creating an unsafe environment for all individuals on campus. The Congresswoman's full letter can be accessed through the provided link: https://stefanik.house.gov/2024/5/stefanik-urges-trustees-of-columbia-university-to-remove-president-shafik.