This is all riot control gear. US universities usually have their own police departments, so by extension they usually have their own riot control gear as well.

You wouldn't use any of this stuff in war. It isn't designed to kill people (although it can and will, especially if used improperly).

If you've ever been hit by either (I've been hit by a few pepper balls) - it fucking sucks. It is painful, it can, absolutely, be lethal if it hits a neck/face/chest.

Less-lethal grenades, probably.

For the 40mm impact munitions in the list. Riot control gear.

"Grenade launcher" here isn't very specific. Could be like an M203 or something, which is a tube launcher that lobs 40mm rounds up to about 100m. You can absolutely get 40mm frag grenades and blow shit up, that's what most people think of when they think of a "grenade launcher," but that's not what it's on the list here. You can lob gas canisters, smoke, illumination flares, etc etc etc, just depends on what you're trying to do.

It kind of fits SAS tactics, who often complete missions with no lethal shots. They flood areas with CS gas (using grenade launchers) then invade with gas masks.