Protest downtown on Wednesday notably smaller than one Tuesday

Protesters march for justice in Cleveland on Nov. 26, following the death of 12-year-old Tamir Rice.

(Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer)

OBERLIN, Ohio - Actions have consequences, said many cleveland.com readers in support of Oberlin College's refusal to suspend failing grades this semester despite requests for relief from students who skipped classes and missed study time to protest recent deaths at the hands of police across the nation.

Hundreds of students have participated in demonstrations in Oberlin and Cleveland in the wake of the fatal police shooting of 12-year-old Tamir Rice in Cleveland, the shooting death of Michael Brown by a suburban St. Louis officer and the death of Eric Garner in New York, the student newspaper reported.

Here are what some readers had to say:

Sorry, but you're wrong said: I have no problem with students exercising their right to protest, but it shows a lack maturity to demand that there be no consequence for this decision. Take your F and retake the course later, don't whine about it. Doing so undermines your position as serious people making serious choices.

mwatty85 said: Glad Oberlin made this decision. Lesson in common sense. A job/test/life won't wait for you and won't always sync up with your timeline. It is 100% your fault if you fail at something such as a class.

DigDoug said: Welcome to the real world. You have a commitment you made to classes, now stick to it and follow through. If I do not show up for work and do not do what is expected of me, guess what I get reprimanded and so forth. This is no different. Accept responsibility for your actions. This is the issue today, entitlement. Everyone thinks things should be their way with ZERO consequences. Wrong. Kudos to the college!!

neoplayer said: While I absolutely support any person's right to protest, a cherished right of ours that is not widely shared across the globe I also feel just as strong that when you chose to participate in one thing over another you are making that choice with a sound mind and you realize the consequences of your decision. With that said - any student who opted to participate also made the decision to not attend classes and so live with your decision. Of course I also think this millennial generation is vastly made up of a bunch of spoiled kids who believe they are calling the shots are should get everything they ask for.

Some readers contrasted the actions to civil rights protests and demonstrations against the Vietnam War.

Dugwayboy said: Five decades ago college students used the moral force of their unwillingness to accept the status quo to advance civil rights and end a bafflingly pointless war. But, as I recall, they also turned in term papers and showed up for finals. And if they didn't, it was because they had made a moral choice to forgo their immediate personal academic responsibilities for some greater good.

The injustices these current kids were opposing were there before and after their scheduled exams. There's always plenty of injustice, you just have to fit your indignation into your schedule. Academic calendars are not set by Twitter.

hartland44122 said: Without protestors, what would our rights look like today? Minorities, gays, and women have obtained their rights because of civil disobedience; those rights are more important than mere inconvenience. I do, however, disagree with the students' assertion that they should all just be handed Cs; the administration made the right decision.

On the other hand –

Bicyclebuckeye said: Martin Luther King would back Oberlin's Administration and admonish the students who want to have their cake and eat it too.

Civil Disobedience presupposes that the actor expects and accepts punishment for his actions, thereby drawing attention to his cause. MLK, like Ghandi could not have gained the attention they desired without getting arrested.

The students were not arrested for disrupting traffic. But now they are going to have to accept the consequences of missing class in order to promote a cause when other avenues to express their beliefs were open to them.

A few readers supported the students' request.

ophra said: No need to drop academic requirements but the students should be given another time and test to show their knowledge in the fields of study. There is no reason to hold the students to accountability for protesting or displaying their feelings about what is happening in America today . Remember the Vietnam protests in 60s .... The students were RIGHT and the Leaders in America needed to be shown that they were wrong and another path needed to be taken for the future of America . The Young Students should be given every opportunity to show they know their academic studies + should not be punished or hampered with for displaying their freedom of speech and the right to protest a serious matter which all of America is concerned about . Best of luck in the Future to all the students.

CopleyOHIO agreed. Wow...many of you forget that it was students protest that provided many of the luxuries that we all enjoy today. Instead of praising their courage for standing up for something even if you do not believe in it is just appalling I wish more would complement them. Oberlin is known for its forthright activism. Shame on you! thank god for the young and forward thinkers....

And some said the students should view this as a learning experience.

mwatty85 said: Glad Oberlin made this decision. Lesson in common sense. A job/test/life won't wait for you and won't always sync up with your timeline. It is 100% your fault if you fail at something such as a class.

che_cazzo said: I would send my kid to Oberlin. And if she skipped class in favor of protesting, I would support her in get right to do that. And if she complained that she was going to fail a class because of the time she spent protesting, I would tell her that she's now learning an important lesson about priorities and hopefully she accomplished enough outside of class to justify a lower or failing grade.