Universities are a great way to discover the world.
Not only do we learn important things if we want to have an impact in society and earn a good living.
Universities form doctors, engineers, scientists, lawyers, teachers, professors, translators, etc..all kinds of professions originate from diplomas acquired during our years at the university.
And, Universities allow students to meet other students from very different brackgrounds. City people meet field people, foreigners meet locals, space nuts meet future doctors without borders: its a very rich meltingpot of ideas, expectations and all those guys have more or less the same age. In the 60's, the US students protested the Vietnam war (which prevented the last 3 Apollo flights from taking place and also limited the Shuttle spending, with consequences still felt today). Also, it is true that "patriotism" is not so popular in Europe (since WW1) and that's why criticism is still possible whatever the circumstances.
Universities are great places where ideas are expressed and we live in free speech countries, don't we? If there is one in a while an argument that sounds offensive, other arguments will straighten it up.
Raoul