You need free speech in order to protest against bad government, but there's no need to exercise that right in a private environment (for example, this page of comments). 
Or did you not see the parallel? 

A civil right is a civil right. 
The college campuses across the country which honor civil rights (specifically the right to bear arms) have LOWER crime rates than the ones which prohibit self-protection. 
Criminals usually aren't stupid enough to attack where they even suspect they could be effectively stopped. 

Until places of business (including colleges) can prevent students & staff from being the victims of crime, they should not be allowed to deny people their right to self-protection.