Campus unrest and student-led communications platforms are changing how communities experience emergencies and protests. After a December campus shooting at Brown, students used Sidechat—an anonymous campus message board—to share live reports before official alerts, highlighting how social platforms have become primary channels during crises. Schools and safety officials must now integrate real-time, unmoderated student flows into emergency responses. Separately, Cooper Union settled a lawsuit from Jewish students over protest policies and revised its protocols after litigation alleged tolerance of discriminatory conduct during a pro‑Palestinian demonstration. The settlement and policy change reflect heightened legal and reputational risks institutions face when protests intersect with allegations of discrimination. Universities must balance free expression with campus safety and nondiscrimination obligations; lawmakers, lawyers, and accreditors are watching how institutions craft notice, protest-management, and student discipline frameworks in response.