A new report from FIRE documented a record 273 attempts to investigate, censor or punish student expression in 2025, driven by clashes over protest activity, identity politics and high‑profile incidents. FIRE and campus leaders point to a sharp increase in administrative and political intervention, including attempts to discipline student journalists and pressure colleges to punish demonstrators. Simultaneously, a number of prominent university leaders and faculty are urging new institutional defenses as federal scrutiny and political pressure rise — including threats to federal research funding and demands tied to campus speech and programming. Op‑eds and institutional commentary argue universities must balance compliance with constitutional protections and academic freedom. The convergence of student censorship attempts and federal leverage has immediate governance implications: boards and general counsels must prepare evidence-based policies, clear due-process protections, and communication frameworks to respond to external demands without undermining institutional autonomy.