NEW YORK - The end of June will mark the departure of Cornell University president Martha E. Pollack, as she revealed on Thursday.
Amid widespread pro-Palestinian demonstrations on college campuses nationwide, Pollack's decision to resign has been announced.
She becomes the third president of an Ivy League institution to step down since December.
Prior to this, Harvard president Claudine Gay stepped down, along with University of Pennsylvania president Liz Magill. These resignations followed criticized testimonies given before Congress. New York City Schools Chancellor David Banks also testified before the same Congressional committee earlier this week.
In her retirement announcement, Pollack acknowledged the ongoing protests.
"I started contemplating this decision last autumn and finalized it during the December break. However, on three occasions when I was about to take action, I had to halt due to events unfolding on our campus or others. Yet, further delay is not in the best interest of the university. It is essential to allow ample time for a seamless transition before the upcoming academic year commences. Additionally, I do not wish for my announcement to overshadow the upcoming Commencement ceremony, where we will celebrate our newest graduates," she expressed. "There is much more to Cornell than the current unrest seen on university campuses nationwide, and I hope we can remember that."
Reflecting on her seven years as Cornell's president, Pollack described it as "an incredible privilege."
Meanwhile, amidst House Speaker Mike Johnson's ongoing calls for the dismissal of Columbia University President Minouche Shafik over her management of protests, Columbia University has scrapped its primary commencement event in light of the ongoing demonstrations. The university will instead hold smaller graduation ceremonies starting this Friday.
