Overview

• Claire Shipman has been appointed acting president of Columbia University, becoming its third leader in two years following leadership resignations tied to antisemitism controversies and federal funding disputes.
• Shipman previously dismissed Republican-led congressional hearings on campus antisemitism as 'nonsense' in a 2023 text message, raising concerns about her approach to the issue.
• In the same text, Shipman suggested reinstating student groups suspended for participating in anti-Israel protests, further fueling criticism of her leadership stance.
• Columbia remains under federal scrutiny, with $400 million in federal funding revoked by the Trump administration contingent on compliance with mandated reforms addressing antisemitism and campus safety.
• In her first statement as acting president, Shipman pledged to build on existing plans to stabilize the university but provided limited details on how she intends to navigate the ongoing challenges.