Surely this is a First Amendment case? A Senator of the President's party complains, and the Government-funded university leaps to punish the wrong speech, which hasn't been shown in court to contravene any law.
It is really crazy how authoritarian the US has become, and so quickly.
The university did not take this action directly in response to the issue, it took it in response to a call from a US senator regarding a law restricting freedom of speech. Such calls do not have a “no thanks” option. This is the normal way power is exerted, actually executing a punishment is the exception.
Your definition of freedom of speech is wrong per both US and international law. It is a freedom, the issue is the restriction of it, not just any punishment unjustly inflicted.
It is really crazy how authoritarian the US has become, and so quickly.