In a strongly worded letter, the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) has alerted Michael Martin, Chancellor of Louisiana State University (LSU) that, in its opinion, the firing of Professor Ivor van Heerden "raises significant issues of academic freedom, tenure and due process."
Two months ago, van Heerden, the former deputy director of the Louisiana State University (LSU) Hurricane Center filed a wrongful termination lawsuit in state court against the flagship university.
Van Heerden alleged that LSU officials waged a campaign of retaliatory harassment for his criticism of the federal Army Corps of Engineers. Louisiana State University receives large federal grants from the Corps.
John Barry, Oliver Houck, Dr. Mtangulizi Sanyika, Bill Schulz and Harry Shearer listen to the organizers of Ivor van Heerden's press conference. Photo by Sandy Rosenthal
Apparently Chancellor Martin had ignored previously written letters to his office setting forth AAUP's concerns regarding actions taken by LSU administration to terminate the services of Dr. van Heerden.
The most recent letter dated April 5, 2010 puts LSU on alert that the AAUP shall "establish an ad hoc committee composed of persons who have had no previous involvement with the particular matter, to conduct its own full inquiry without prejudgement of any kind." (Hat tip to the Editilla at the New Orleans Ladder for posting this information first.)
When the professor announced his intention to sue LSU, he was flanked by big name supporters including John Barry (author Rising Tide), Harry Shearer (actor, filmmaker), Oliver Houck (Tulane University law professor), Mtangulizi Sanyika (African American Leadership Project), and Jed Horne (author Breach of Faith).
At the time, few media reports mentioned this significant show of support. This ad hoc investigation now shows, yet again, that Ivor van Heerden is far from alone on this journey to find out the truth about Ivor van Heerden's firing.
Click here for the official notice to LSU.
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That is the problem here.
Dr. Van Heerden got it right Before The Storm. He modeled it down to a friggin golf tee.
Then after the Corps Engineering Failed... Ivor van Heerden got it right AGAIN.
That is the Problem here, to wit: Louisiana drew Ivor van Heerden here. He'd be the first to tell you that. Not a big time career as a problem for LSU's academic credulity.
The man loves Louisiana and the Gulf Coast. I've met him so don't argue with me on that.
And he does his job Very Well. Sooo let's Fire Him???? My ASCE!
Tis'soon Hurricane Season in Louisiana AGAIN, and I need to know what Ivor van Heerden thinks about it!
That's what I'm sayin'. His last day is around May 15th.
This is beyond ridiculous.
I say we go and put a Pie in the Face of the LSU Chancellor on That Day.
What have we got to loose?
But the rest of Louisiana!
thanks youz, Sandy Rosenthal, for jumping on the Ladder wit'dis.
I still haven't seen it covered in any "news media", so once again we bloggers have to shovel the stall so to speak!
It is no small wonder that Ivor van Heerden throws his lot in with levees.org and supports your efforts wholeheartedly. I shudder to think how this Greatest Civil Engineering Disaster in History would have spun had Y'all not been on the ball with it like this. I mean, think about it. It is hard enough already getting the Straight Story Told about the Corps' Flood of New Orleans! The Corps and their Contractors have Minions of PR Hacks lined up on Ivor van Heerden right now.
His Cause is a Fulcrum Event.
Thank goodness somebody stepped up with a Louisville Slugger. Really.
Thanks Youz,
Editilla~New Orleans Ladder
http://noladder.blogspot.com/
Corps employees at the New Orleans District began treating their critics as if they were terrorists and enemy of the state. Any detractor was vilified, discredited or worse. What happened to Ivor van Heerden at LSU, for speaking critically about a federal agency, the Army Corps is happening to others as well, and it's still going on now. Thank you Dr. van Heerden for yet again, doing what was right, and at an enormous personal expense.
I'm with Laura McBride...what happened to respect for thoughtful dissent?
This nation has enough problems without our universities teaching students (the future leaders of this country), that honor and integrity should be punished rather than rewarded.
The vindication of Dr. van Heerden, will go much farther than just setting things right in his career. It will stand as a priceless example to LSU students, who will eventually be faced (as we all are at some point) with choosing between the honorable path or the corrupt path.
These students need to see Dr. van Heerden standing tall at the end of this investigation, and those responsible for his deplorable treatment shamed and appropriately reprimanded.