Private universities have insurance, and insurance companies are spreading their messages. Private entities and institutions are not immune from suit. And those suits are generally settled.

Actually, the same goes for public universities, which settle lawsuits.

The attorneys advising these senior-level decision makers are advising them that they have to make careful decisions and document those decisions. Otherwise, it certainly looks worse during a lawsuit. Reasoned decisions that are documented might at least fend off some liability.

Some states have more thorough sovereign immunity laws than others.