St. Anthony’s GCR calls for the removal of alumni privileges for Minouche Shafik

The Graduate Common Room (GCR) of St. Antony’s College has approved a request to suspend alumni privileges by Minouche Shafik, President of Columbia University.

Shafik received a doctorate in economics from St. Antony’s College, University of Oxford in 1989. She has been the 20th President of Columbia University since July 2023 and previously served as President and Vice-Chancellor of the London School of Economics from 2017 to 2023.

St. Antony’s College offers privileges to its former graduates, such as a free dinner with distinguished guests once a year.

The GCR also officially requests the college to prohibit Shafik from visiting college premises, speaking at college events, and attending alumni events, and to make this suspension public.

The GCR said Shafik’s response had been “widely criticised as appalling and a lack of support for free expression and the right to protest”.

It also points out that Shafik’s actions and reactions as a prominent alumnus reflect the college’s reputation and values, but that her handling of the student protests is “contrary to the values ​​of free expression, human rights and ethical responsibility of our university.”

“The college community has a responsibility to speak out against actions by alumni that undermine these fundamental values,” the statement said.

The request came after Shafik came under criticism for her handling of student protests at Columbia University after she testified before the U.S. Congress in May as part of a series of hearings on anti-Semitism on college campuses.

Her comments drew criticism and sparked protests and a camp in support of Palestine. On April 18, Shafik ordered the New York police to clear the camp and over 100 students were arrested.

On May 17, Columbia University’s School of Humanities and Sciences expressed a vote of no confidence in President Minouche Shafik.

“President Shafik’s violation of the basic requirements of academic freedom and shared governance, as well as her unprecedented attack on students’ rights, deserve clear and forceful condemnation,” the resolution states.

St. Antony’s College announced The Oxford Student that “we are not in a position to comment on the GCR proposal at this time; we will discuss it in our Board of Directors.”

Image credit: Gnesener1900 via Wikimedia Commons

Image caption: St. Antony’s College

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