IF indeed history teaches us lessons, we are afraid to state that some students at the Copperbelt University (CBU) in Kitwe have not learnt a thing from their past behaviour.

It is difficult to understand why, whenever they have complaints of any nature, the students resort to violent conduct and usually end up hurting innocent people who have nothing to do with their grievances.

The smashing of motor vehicle windscreens on Saturday night is hostile behaviour that continues to blight the image of the institution.

We recall that it was only in August last year when similar ugly scenes at CBU led to the burning of a motor vehicle belonging to a businessperson who was also robbed of K200 million by some students.

Despite some culprits later landing in jail, it seems some students with a morbid fascination with anarchy are still determined to perpetuate the orgy of destruction whenever they have a chance to do so.

We have stated many times in this column that university students are supposed to show the world that they are knowledge leaders who should provoke progressive thinking on many issues affecting our country.

Yet, what some of our students in most institutions of higher learning have so far managed to demonstrate is a paucity of ideas and an easy way out of their challenges.

We believe it is a mark of cowardice for one to always seek solace in violence when there are many civilised ways of resolving differences.

Whatever underlying issues keep leading to this unbecoming behaviour, we urge the authorities responsible to ensure such criminality is brought to an end immediately.