The president of Columbia University, Nemat “Minouche” Shafik, has announced her immediate resignation, triggering a mix of relief and skepticism among students who have protested against her handling of anti-war demonstrations. Shafik’s brief and tumultuous tenure as the leader of the university, coupled with the subsequent protests, has created significant unrest among the student body.

Maryam Alwan, a 22-year-old student who has actively participated in the protests, expressed her feelings as being “personally validated.” Alwan was one of the students who led protests in the spring as conflicts in Gaza escalated. Students set up a “solidarity camp for Gaza” on campus to pressure the university to divest from investments linked to Israel’s military operations.

However, Shafik’s administration quickly became characterized by conflict as the university called in police to dismantle the camp, resulting in the suspension of several participants. Alwan, who organizes under the group Students for Justice in Palestine, stated that she will not be satisfied with Shafik’s departure: “Our demands for divestment will not be dismissed just because a figurehead has been removed,” she said.

The end of Shafik’s presidency marks a challenging time for Columbia. In her statement, she attempted to navigate between academic principles and justice, but critics, such as psychology professor Carl Hart, argue that her leadership undermined the values she claimed to support. Hart found it difficult to be honest with his students when they faced repercussions for standing up against injustice.

In the wake of Shafik’s resignation, the university faces an important decision regarding its future leadership. History professor Nara Milanich views this as a “welcome opportunity for a major reset,” encouraging the new administration to engage more with faculty and students.

Students like Alwan and Cameron Jones, who leads Columbia’s Jewish Voice for Peace, express hope that the next president will listen to their concerns rather than prioritizing politicians and donors. However, Jones noted that he is worried about how the university will respond to future protests, especially as there are reports that the university is considering allowing its security officers to make arrests.

With Shafik’s resignation, it appears that the fight for justice and equality at Columbia continues as students remain determined not to relent until the university divests from all investments contributing to the conflict in Gaza.