Two governance flashpoints surfaced this week as trustees at separate public universities took decisive actions that drew faculty objections. The University of West Florida’s Board of Trustees voted 11–1 to name former Republican lawmaker Manny Diaz Jr. president after a search that faculty leaders called rushed and procedurally flawed; critics told the board the single‑finalist process fell short of established norms. At the University of Virginia, text messages obtained via public records reveal trustees criticizing lawmakers and faculty during recent campus tensions, fueling concerns about trustee‑faculty relations and transparency. Both episodes underscore growing friction between governing boards and academic communities at a time when political appointees and governance overhauls are reshaping campus leadership.