For years, older people, particularly in a town such as Lawrence, often have displayed their dismay at current events with remarks such as, “What are those crazy college kids going to do next?”

Most of the time they are talking about fraternity and sorority pranks of a publicized but not harmful nature. Long ago, kids ate goldfish, dressed silly and dreamed up stunts to tease athletic opponents.

There is nothing the least bit clever or acceptable about the antics that led to the arrest of three college students in Birmingham, Ala., in connection with arson fires at nine rural churches. The early explanation from the accused was that the first fires were set “as a joke” and later blazes were an attempt to try to create “a diversion” to cover up the previous crimes.

No joke, not funny, punish the guilty!

“While all three are entitled to have their day in court, we are very hopeful that this is the end of the fear that has been rampant in west Alabama,” said U.S. Rep. Arthur Davis. Consider the atmosphere of terror that has existed.

Five churches were torched south of Birmingham and four churches were hit in west Alabama. Five of the churches were destroyed and four were damaged, including one in which congregants, alerted during the night that other churches were burning, arrived just as arsonists were leaving. That fire, started in the sanctuary near the altar, was quickly put out, but there was substantial damage.

Early indications are that there is no racial pattern, because the churches that were struck were split about 50-50 between white and black congregations.

What “joke” were these students trying to play? It was evil behavior with no redeeming explanation.

Many will watch Alabama to see how harshly it treats the guilty in this disgusting case. We can only hope that it will be a long, long time before the arsonists can return to a college campus and that any advanced study they undertake will occur while they are behind bars.