Published 05/05/2024 14:38 | Updated 05/05/2024 14:41
A petition was launched on the internet this Saturday (4), asking the president of Columbia University, Minouche Shafik, to resign from her position. The document points out that her performance “has not met the expectations of the academic community.”
The dean has been criticized by students, faculty and outside observers for inviting the New York police to enter the campus on April 18 and dismantle an encampment made by demonstrators protesting Israel’s war against Hamas in the Strip. Gaza.
Through this letter, we congratulate you on your academic career and in the educational sector.
Without a shadow of a doubt, the mission of teachers is vital not only to stimulate the cognitive development of human beings, but also to contribute to boosting sociability and tolerance among students, teachers and society. A cycle of virtues that has helped maintain the ethical values of civilization. This is one of the reasons why choosing a teaching career reveals a noble trait and a good dose of selflessness.
However, it seems to us that your performance. In view of the latest events at Columbia University, in New York, it has not responded to the desires of an academic community that proposes to be free, democratic and at the same time peaceful and welcoming of ethnic, religious and racial plurality.
With this statement, we are not trying to say that the position of President of Columbia University, in the midst of such polarized tensions, is an easy mission to execute.
Therefore, as President of such a renowned and prestigious University, it is unthinkable that in an academic environment of excellence that structurally values debate and dialogue as essential to the pedagogical method, that you would partially lean towards one side of conflicting issues, nor completely losing control of the situation on campus, as unfortunately has just happened. It is self-evident that your inability unfortunately generated a symbolic and affective stain and the latest and regrettable events involving depredation, discrimination and intolerance will be recorded beyond this historical moment.
As a result, we ponder your decision. in, thinking from a broader, more generous perspective and for the benefit of the entire academic community, giving up an individual position as President of this institution, to, with humility, allow the resumption of minimum attendance conditions for all students, at Columbia University, reestablishing normality, functionality and the true and elevated purpose of academic life.
São Paulo, May 3, 2024″.
