No, no amnesty.

https://apnews.com/article/student-protest-gaza-war-arrest-amnesty-ae235703d6a9b99114078fca13a530a0

1 - I do think in some cases universities may have over-reacted, and they should look at each student's case individually to make sure they are not punishing students who were actually protesting peacefully.

2 - Of course private universities do not have to allow students to protest at all; their is no First Amendment protection from being silenced on private property by the property owner. But as educational institutions, I think they should be as broadly accommodating to free expression of thought as is consistent with the rest of their educational mission and protecting students from harm, even at the cost of some educational disruption and personal offense (but not harm or threat) to other students.

But...

3 - It's easy to think that just because you're on the side of good there should be no consequences for your actions. The world has never been this way, nor should it.

3A - First, no one is a proper judge of their own case. The more noble you feel, the more likely that you have blinders obscuring your perspective, both as to the rightness of your cause and the justness of your actions.

3B - Second, talk is cheap. If you are unwilling to accept the consequences of your actions, how deeply committed are you to your cause, really? Protest can be a fun group activity, but nobody need take you seriously if you're only in it as long as it's high psychic reward and low personal cost.

Civil Rights protestors were arrested by the hundreds and thousands, and took it as a badge of pride. They were beaten, had fire hoses turned on them, and were attacked by police dogs. I am not advocating the latter, which are illegitimate responses, but that people stood up through that sharply distinguishes them from students for whom protest is not yet sharply distinguished in their minds from playtime.

The Civil Rights marchers were taught by their own organizers that these were the risks, and how to respond to them. Each generation has to relearn these lessons. It's easy to mock these students, but it's wiser to keep in mind that they are young and are simply the next generation to have to learn.