Perhaps because I remember that time first hand, "they" tried to burn down *my* ROTC building and my student union, so I'm a bit picky about the history. Their attempts were pretty pathetic in those cases. They set the fires in the ROTC building on the concrete of the drive-out basement, and only managed to scorch a carpet with their firebomb.
However I also saw the underhanded tactics they used to make it appear that the majority of the student body were behind them.
They had their "all student" convocation, and lost the "strike" vote, and all their other resolutions. When the wacko who later firebombed the Union shouted "shut it down or we'll burn it down", he was loudly booed and had to make a quick retreat. That much I saw with my own eyes, and got reports on the ROTC fire first hand from folks who did see it.
That was Mother's day weekend. All the normal students went home to be with their mothers, so the wackos had another "convocation" on Mothers day, where they, in the name of the student body, voted a "strike", which was duly reported by the local media, but just as duly ignored by the majority of the students.
You said *MY ROTC building. From that I thank you for your involvement in the ROTC program and perhaps military as well. What I was trying to say was that there is an entire story that is largely unknown. I did not intend to diminish by referring to 'cops' what transpired, but point out that the commonly told story may not be completely accurate.