Northwestern College President Michael Schill introduced Thursday that he’ll resign, ending a three-year tenure marked by the freeze of hundreds of millions of {dollars} in federal funding by the Trump administration and heated criticism from Home Republicans over the college’s response to campus protests.
In an announcement asserting his resignation, Schill acknowledged these challenges immediately.
“It’s vital that we proceed to guard the College’s analysis mission and excellence whereas preserving tutorial freedom, integrity, and independence,” he stated.
Northwestern emerged as a distinguished goal of President Donald Trump’s marketing campaign to reshape elite faculties he has derided as hotbeds of liberalism and antisemitism. In April, the administration froze $790 million in federal funding for the college in Evanston, Illinois, which is amongst dozens of faculties which were beneath investigation over claims they didn’t do sufficient to guard Jewish college students throughout campus protests.
Through the wave of pro-Palestinian protests in spring 2024, Northwestern drew ire from conservatives over an agreement it struck with demonstrators to take down their encampment. In change, Northwestern pledged to reestablish an advisory committee on college investments and different commitments.
Schill defended the arrangement throughout an look in Might 2024 earlier than a Home committee investigating campus antisemitism.
“We needed to get the encampment down,” Schill stated. “The police resolution was not going to be accessible to us to maintain folks protected, and in addition will not be the wisest resolution as we’ve seen at different campuses throughout the nation.”
Supporters of Israel and the administration officers have framed the protests at Northwestern and different faculties as antisemitic and “pro-Hamas.” However folks concerned within the demonstrations reject that characterization. They are saying advocating for Palestinian human rights and territorial claims, or criticizing Israeli navy motion, is just not antisemitic.
Schill will proceed as president till an interim chief is chosen, Northwestern stated. He additionally will work with the Board of Trustees on efforts to revive the college’s frozen federal funding, the college stated.
