The U.S. Department of Education opened a review of UC Berkeley under the Clery Act after violent clashes at a campus protest on Nov. 10, escalating federal scrutiny of campus safety and reporting practices. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon cited prior Clery enforcement and said the department would examine whether Berkeley had proper procedures to safeguard students and staff. At Duke University, administrators told faculty to route media requests about institutional responses to policy changes through central communications, according to internal emails obtained by student media. The guidance — framed as protecting research and public messaging — prompted faculty debate about academic freedom and the university’s posture under increased federal attention. Taken together, the developments signal intensified federal oversight of campus events and an operational shift in how universities manage external communications during politically fraught moments. Campus counsel, public‑relations teams and compliance officers should expect further inquiries and prepare coordinated disclosure and Clery‑compliance protocols.