Columbia University’s president, Minouche Shafik, received a strong vote of confidence from the institution’s board of trustees last night, as pro-Palestinian protests continue on campus and at other colleges across the country.

The statement came after House Speaker Mike Johnson called on her to resign yesterday.

"The Columbia University Board of Trustees strongly supports President Shafik as she steers the university through this extraordinarily challenging time," the board said in a statement.

The board said Shafik, who took up the post on July 1, 2023, had promised to "take a thoughtful approach to resolving conflict, balancing the disparate voices that make up a vibrant campus like Columbia’s, while taking a firm stance against hatred, harassment and discrimination."

"That’s exactly what she’s doing now," the statement said, adding that the board was "urgently working with her to resolve the situation on campus."

On Monday Shafik said she was "saddened" by the situation on campus and called on protest leaders to compromise and sit down for talks.