I agree, it is a dick move and it's very rude - definitely not the best way to get people talking about this topic. I guess I'm just a little pissed to see the media and the university so concerned about offending people that they won't stop to defend their own students doing their thing.
Universities are supposed to be places where people can try out new ideas and be passionate about things and, yes, be assholes sometimes. Offending people is allowed I wish I could just scream that from the rooftops sometimes.
That last point I most certainly agree with. Currently in Uni - it's like a little bubble, and in the bubble is a crockpot of different ideas and ideologies. They're trying it out. At least the experimentation is happening now and not when there can be major consequences for their actions.