Here is Bollinger’s letter, in response to what happened at Columbia. The whole thing is worth reading, but here are some key sentences:

The disruption on Wednesday night that resulted in the termination of an event organized by the Columbia College Republicans in Lerner Hall represents, in my judgment, one of the most serious breaches of academic faith that can occur in a university such as ours. …
This is not complicated: Students and faculty have rights to invite speakers to the campus. Others have rights to hear them. Those who wish to protest have rights to do so. No one, however, shall have the right or the power to use the cover of protest to silence speakers. This is a sacrosanct and inviolable principle. …
Administrators began identifying those involved in the incident as it transpired and continue to investigate specific violations of University policies to ensure full accountability by those found to be responsible.

If Columbia actually punishes the organizers of its on-campus riot–this was no mere “protest”–then Bollinger will have backed up his tough words with concrete action. As Bollinger says, “this is not complicated.” Neither should it be complicated to identify the ringleaders and give them what they deserve: suspension or expulsion. With the whole thing on captured on tape, it shouldn’t take too long, either — at least if Columbia really wants to get to the bottom of this.