Lead: A wave of undercover videos and street protests has escalated employment terminations and arrests on campuses, sharpening tensions over DEI work and protest tactics. North Carolina State fired an assistant director at its LGBTQ Pride Center after an anti‑DEI group released a covert recording alleging policy violations; Accuracy in Media has posted similar videos from other UNC system campuses. Separately, a protest outside Columbia University opposing ICE resulted in 12 arrests after demonstrators blocked traffic; faculty and students were among those charged. What happened: Universities responded with employment investigations, policy enforcement and public statements defending institutional neutrality or protest rights. The incidents highlight the growing stakes for staff managing campus programs and for faculty and students engaged in civil disobedience. Why it matters: These enforcement decisions affect staff morale, legal exposure, donor relations and public trust. Institutions must balance free‑speech protections, compliance with state mandates, and protection of vulnerable campus communities.