> In effect, this would create a prohibition on controversial political speech for all academics—and eventually, perhaps, professionals in other highly visible domains.

Traditionally tenured faculty enjoy(ed?) some degree of freedom of thought and expression, in order to prevent the stifling of scholarship, to promote the development and free interchange of ideas, and to enable the discussion of controversial issues.

It makes sense to me for universities to extend that courtesy to faculty of other institutions as well as their own.