On Wednesday, Minouche Shafik resigned as president of Columbia University. Her decision was long overdue. Shafik, an economist by training, proved unwilling or incapable of addressing the anti-Israel protests that engulfed Columbia this past academic year.
In this failure, Shafik clearly showed her unfitness for the office she held. Her administration permitted widespread disfunction and paralysis across campus that thwarted what should be Columbia’s main purpose: education. Classes were disrupted and students feared for their safety. Rather than take a strong approach early, the university let the protests and encampments overwhelm all order and peace.
Universities should foster free and open discussion. They can and should do so in a wide variety of forums, including the classroom, on-campus lectures from guest speakers, student-led groups, and other avenues. These free and…
