AAUP Will Investigate Louisiana State’s Firing of Hurricane Scientist

The American Association of University Professors has announced that it will investigate Louisiana State University over its refusal to renew the contract of Ivor van Heerden, deputy director of a university center that studies hurricanes. Mr. van Heerden has argued in a lawsuit challenging the university’s actions that his position was eliminated in retaliation for his criticism of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers—a major source of grant money for the university—in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The AAUP said in a letter to the university that its investigation would focus on alleged violations of academic freedom, tenure, and due process.