Cal Poly Humboldt President Tom Jackson Jr. announced he will step down after a tumultuous semester that saw pro-Palestinian protests escalate into building occupations, arrests and a campus-wide shutdown.

In April, pro-Palestinian protesters took over two buildings at the northern California school, demanding stronger support for Palestinian rights and a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. The standoff culminated in a confrontation with police in riot gear, who rounded up and arrested dozens of protesters.