The Caledonian Record (Vt.), Nov. 23:

‘Black Lives Matter’ student protests are happening on college campuses throughout the country. The following represents a small sampling of some of their demands:

Smith College: Media must pledge support for protests or they can’t cover them.

University of Missouri: President must make a written acknowledgment of his “white privilege,” and the university’s “systems of oppression.”

Amherst College: President must make a written apology for “institutional legacy of white supremacy, colonialism, anti-black racism, anti-Latino racism, anti- Native American racism, anti- Native/ indigenous racism, anti- Asian racism, anti-Middle Eastern racism, heterosexism, cis-sexism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, ableism, mental health stigma, and classism.”

Amherst College: White students who put up “All Lives Matter” and “Free Speech” posters must be disciplined.

Johns Hopkins, Princeton, Purdue, Cincinnati: Mandatory classes in cultural competency, micro-aggressions, racial awareness, etc.

Emory: Raises and promotions for all black faculty.

Eastern Michigan, Yale: Blackonly financial advisers and financial aid officers.

Towson, Brown: White students stop protesting in favor of black students.

Kansas: A separate, black-only student government.

Toronto: Free educations for “black and indigenous students.”

A number of protesters called for buildings to get name changes. Still others, ironically, have demanded separate buildings and/or campuses exclusively for minorities.

In all cases, people who disagree with the protesters or who won’t bow to their (often ludicrous) demands, are being labeled bigots.

Now, we don’t begrudge people their right to protest and we don’t know anyone who would argue with the overarching theme – black lives matter.

But the way these kids are behaving gives the distinct impression that they think their lives matter more than everyone else. That isn’t the smartest strategy to earn sympathizers.