Portland State University agreed to reinstate 10 non‑tenure‑track faculty members after an arbitrator found the layoffs violated the collective bargaining agreement. President Ann Cudd said the university still faces a $35 million deficit and maintained the institution believed the reductions had been necessary, but the administration chose to comply with the arbitrator’s order. Separately, universities nationwide continue to discipline faculty for public comments related to Charlie Kirk’s assassination; at least 26 faculty members have faced sanctions, with several suing their institutions, according to The Chronicle’s review. The wave of disciplinary actions has fueled debate over academic freedom and how campuses police faculty speech online. Why it matters: collective bargaining rulings and high‑profile free‑speech cases are reshaping labor relations and faculty governance. Reinstatements and legal challenges can increase short‑term costs and complicate institutions’ budget plans while prompting national scrutiny of disciplinary policies.