New York:
Minouche Shafik, an esteemed economist, was thrilled to become president of one of America's most prestigious colleges.
But her name will now be associated with dramatic images of New York police arresting pro-Palestinian students on the campus of Columbia University.
Less than a year after taking on the role, Shafik, 61, finds herself at the center of a firestorm over her handling of the protests that have spread to other colleges across the United States.
Twice in two weeks she asked the police to intervene – first to disperse an encampment on the university grounds and then, on Tuesday, to evict students who had barricaded themselves in a building on campus.
Spectacular images of helmeted police officers surrounding the campus and detaining students circulated overnight, leading to criticism of Shafik, especially from teachers.
Even before Tuesday, Shafik was under fire on two fronts.
Republicans have demanded Shafik's resignation, arguing that she has failed to protect Jewish students on her campus.
Meanwhile, pro-Palestinian students accuse her of muzzling their protests and escalating the situation by calling in the police to manage the demonstrations.
'In-depth effect'
Born in Alexandria, Egypt, Nemat “Minouche” Shafik was four years old when her family fled the country and moved to the United States.
“I was born into a comfortable family in a society marked by severe inequality,” the British-American told Columbia Magazine in the fall of 2023.
But she said: “My family's prospects changed dramatically in the mid-1960s, when most of our land and property was confiscated by the Egyptian state as part of Nasser's nationalization program.”
Shafik found herself as an immigrant in the American South “during the desegregation era, amid explosive racial tensions,” an experience that had a “profound effect,” she said.
Shafik graduated from prestigious universities in the United States and the United Kingdom and went on to hold several senior positions at the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the Bank of England before being appointed head of the London School of Economics.
Shafik is also a member of the House of Lords, the second chamber of the British Parliament, a position from which she is currently on leave.
'Important role'
Columbia University was already embroiled in debates, including over the cost of higher education, before Shafik became president last year, making her the first woman to hold the post.
But the war in Gaza, caused by Hamas's attack on Israel in October, caused unrest at the college.
Shafik saw the resignations of the presidents of two other universities — including Harvard — as a result of claims that they were not doing enough to combat anti-Semitism on their campuses.
On April 17, it was Shafik's turn to be questioned by Congress on the matter. She staunchly defended her actions and condemned the anti-Semitism “which is so widespread today.”
That same day, Columbia students set up tents on the campus lawns to demand an end to the war in Gaza and that their university cut all ties with Israel.
Shafik called on New York police a day later to help disperse protesters, leading to the arrest of more than 100 students.
That was the start of a high-profile standoff that continued this week.
Writing in Columbia Magazine, Shafik said she decided to become president of the “extraordinary institution” because it was the “most cosmopolitan, outward-looking” top American university.
“And at a time when universities have a critical role to play in addressing societal issues, I believe Columbia is positioned to be a tremendous force for positive change, in New York City and around the world” , she said.
Her students, on both sides of the fence, seem to have taken her word for it.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Our staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)