Thanks Steve. As always, your words are insightful.
Two points.
1. I think we need to stop and consider the use of the word “students”. The vast majority of college / university students did not participate in any of the occupation, destruction or violence perpetrated by the few that led to this mess. Consider the University of Texas, which claims a student population of some 51,000. At its peak the occupying demonstration there was less than 1000. Of those occupying areas of the university in violation of campus rules something like 85 were arrested. Of those more than half were not students or otherwise connected with or involved in UT. Blaming all this on students is therefore inappropriate as only a tiny minority were/are involved.
2. The level of planning that took place prior to these demonstrations beginning must be considered. To suggest that this was any sort of spontaneous outburst would be stupidly naive. It should be plain to anyone looking at the bigger picture here that, aside from a small number of core agitators, the majority of students that were involved were simply pawns of a much larger and more sinister manipulator.

There are some 20 million students enrolled in colleges and universities here in the US. The vast majority are there for the education they seek. We should not let the misbehavior of the few taint the reputation, or sense of pride and achievement of the many.