An opinion piece argued universities should sometimes negotiate with an illiberal administration rather than reflexively resist, saying rigid non‑engagement can harm institutional missions and the public interest. The author—writing from an academic viewpoint—delineated differences between bargaining with governments and capitulation, and urged institutions to weigh the legal and societal stakes of engagement versus confrontation. The column frames an operational dilemma for college leaders balancing academic autonomy, funding pressures, and political risk—an acute question as federal and state actors scrutinize campuses.