A jury deadlocked in the trial of five current and former Stanford students charged over pro‑Palestinian demonstrations, prompting a mistrial that leaves unresolved legal and reputational questions for the university. The case underscores legal exposure universities face when campus activism intersects with criminal charges and public debate. Separately, new disclosures from the Epstein files have triggered donor and governance reviews across campuses, with institutions investigating faculty and funder ties and facing calls to rename buildings and sever relationships. Administrators are managing concurrent pressures from student activism, donor scrutiny, and external investigations. University leaders should coordinate legal strategy, communications, and alumni engagement to address protests and reputational risk while protecting academic freedom and campus safety.