Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) predicted on Sunday the brand new performing president of Columbia College “won’t last” after the celebrated establishment misplaced its second chief in latest months to scrutiny of its dealing with of pro-Palestinian protests and antisemitism on campus.
Columbia’s former interim president, Katrina Armstrong, resigned Friday amid a tussle with the Trump administration over federal funding and its response to pro-Palestinian protests on campus. Claire Shipman was appointed to interchange Armstrong, who was the second Columbia chief to step down in lower than a yr.
In an interview on Fox Information’s “Sunday Morning Futures,” Stefanik signaled she was not optimistic about Shipman’s tenure in her new submit.
“We have seen six high-profile university presidents resign, two of which are from Columbia, because these university presidents have failed to show moral strong leadership,” Stefanik mentioned, praising President Trump for “holding them accountable.”
“These universities have failed to make sure that they are following their own rules,” she added. “They have failed to protect Jewish students, and we will continue to highlight a spotlight.”
“But the fact that we’re on the third Columbia University president, and this one, let’s be honest … is not going to last, as well,” Stefanik mentioned.
Stefanik — who has led the battle on Capitol Hill to carry larger schooling accountable for what she describes as antisemitic insurance policies and practices — pointed to reporting that Shipman known as the December 2023 congressional listening to on antisemitism “Capitol Hill nonsense.”
“That is what this latest Columbia University president said,” Stefanik mentioned within the interview. “That’s why it’s untenable for her to be in this position. And I think it is only going to be a matter of weeks before she is forced to step down as well.”
“They still don’t get it. The faculty doesn’t get it. These radical, far-left students [don’t] get it,” she continued.
Stefanik, whose nomination to function ambassador to the United Nations was withdrawn this week, mentioned she would proceed to guide the hassle towards antisemitism on school campuses from her perch on Capitol Hill.
“This is strong leadership from President Trump. I’m going to continue to lead this effort in holding higher ed accountable, standing up to be good stewards of U.S. taxpayer dollars, and combating the rot and the scourge of antisemitism in higher ed,” she mentioned.
