The University of Arkansas moved to dismiss a tenured professor—Shirin Saeidi—over public statements on Iran and Israel and removed her from a directorship after state lawmakers scrutinized the Center for Middle East Studies. Saeidi says she will contest the university’s actions, setting up a contested tenure and free‑speech fight with political overtones. Separately, Clemson University fired and disciplined employees after public uproar over social‑media posts following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Emails obtained during the review show intense pressure from donors, alumni and political actors demanding swift action. Both episodes highlight the governance tightrope trustees must walk: uphold academic freedom, enforce conduct policies, manage donor relations and protect institutional reputation. Boards should review faculty‑discipline protocols, ensure due process protections, and prepare communications playbooks for politicized controversies.