Students: It Runs in the Family

In theory, the most embarrassed Americans these days are the parents of student activists. Their own children — leaders in campus rebellions across the country — have been denounced by public officials who range from state legislators right up to the President of the U.S. Campus disorder is topic Among businessmen, at cocktail parties, on editorial pages — and the tone is 99% disapproving. But are the parents really unhappy?

Yes — to the extent that publicity hurts their families. When the press names student leaders, for example, some fathers receive hate mail,...