Academic governance and professional associations are fracturing over politicized decisions and institutional responses to geopolitical conflict. Tithi Bhattacharya, a Purdue University historian, formally declined the Modern Language Association’s Aldo and Jeanne Scaglione Prize in protest of the MLA’s handling of Gaza‑related resolutions and its suppression of delegates’ votes on boycott, divestment and sanctions proposals. At the same time the Association of Governing Boards wrote to Virginia’s governor‑elect urging reversal of what it called the politicization of state college and university boards. The AGB letter argues political interference erodes institutional autonomy and governance norms, and urges the incoming governor to restore depoliticized appointments. These moves illustrate intensifying clashes among faculty, national associations, governing boards and state officials over institutional decision‑making, academic freedom and the boundaries of acceptable advocacy. Actors named include the MLA, AGB, individual scholars, and state political leaders.