This is an area I actually know a little about, so (unlike most topics such as politics, rocket science, war, etc., where my near-complete ignorance allows me to hold strong opinions) I see this issue in complicated shades of grey.
Universities have lots of challenges right now, and the situation is making it near-impossible for university presidents to lead. They're being forced out all over the country.
The percent of support from federal and state sources is way down, necessitating larger and larger "campaigns" to raise money from wealthy private donors. This gives a handful of ultra-wealthy individuals - almost 100% of whom are white men - a lot of influence over how universities will be run. They're inserting themselves into hiring decisions, curricula, everything.
Meanwhile, the Republicans are doing what they do - basically trying to destroy public education. They didn't have much leverage over private institutions until this golden opportunity fell into their laps. A way to take down at least three female presidents of Ivy League institutions! And one's Black, too! And she looks masculine! Burn the witch!
Which leads to yet another issue facing college campuses, which you've witnessed and talked about here on DU - many of them have become seriously loopy incubators for extreme positions, the way things "should" be, completely dissociated from reality. (This is not true among the medical and sciences faculty of the universities. It's happening mostly in the social sciences.) It makes them easy targets for ridicule and more, especially as they've allowed antisemitism to creep in.
And the cost of tuition... and the consequent debt among students... and so forth...
So it's a hot mess. It's almost unworkable. The Republicans do nothing to help. I've watched this unfold for decades.
= new reply since forum marked as read