Legal experts and higher‑education leaders urged institutions to coordinate responses to government challenges and mounting speech controversies on campus. Panels convened this week recommended trustees form coalitions, invest in legal preparedness, and adopt protocols for events, protest management and academic freedom defense. Practical guidance issued for campus leaders emphasizes robust event security planning, transparent speaker policies, and clear mechanisms for addressing complaints without chilling academic expression. The resources target trustees, counsel and campus public‑safety teams and underscore that legal strategy must be paired with communications and student support plans. Boards and senior leaders face an operational test: balancing free‑speech protections with safety and compliance while navigating federal inquiries and political pressure. Institutions that build cross‑campus coalitions and pre‑negotiated legal playbooks expect to shorten response times and reduce reputational risk.