[ppaul]

Lot's of folks on this thread keep stressing that "Columbia is a private institution", then say this lowlife, scum, traitor should not get fired becuase of "freedom of speech".

It is a private institution. They can hire and fire whomever they choose to. What about freedom of association? What about the "private" University's freedom of speech? They should fire the bum.

[Illbay]

They can, and they can also (as seems more likely) REFUSE to do so.

And I say again, we don't know just how much freedom they have to fire someone over something like this. Collective bargaining agreements with faculty on college campi are notoriously strong with regard to what they see as academic freedom issues.

It may actually be illegal for them to fire him over this.