From the Daily Comet:
Ivor van Heerden, a sandy-haired South African scientist with a penchant for levees and coastal environments, delighted in his role after Hurricane Katrina as one of the few scientists in Louisiana willing to criticize the Army Corps of Engineers.
With his field instruments in hand, van Heerden was a go-to source for news organizations, talk radio and documentary film makers. His message was consistent: The corps was at fault for poor levee engineering and had to be held accountable.
....
On Thursday, about 30 supporters of van Heerden held signs and marched in front of a LSU Health Sciences Center library in New Orleans, shouting "L-S-U, shame on you!"
The signs read: "LSU take the politics out of hurricane studies" and "LSU — stop gagging experts."
"Van Heerden was one of the few to step out and tell the truth that it was corps' engineering," said Ray Broussard, a 50-year-old maritime photographer. He lived in the Lakeview neighborhood when Katrina hit Aug. 29, 2005, and his home was flooded with 7 feet of water.
....
Michael Ruffner, former vice chancellor for communications at LSU, told The New York Times in May 2006 that "We don't see him as a viable source to be discussing the engineering aspect of the levees."
In a June letter to The Times-Picayune newspaper, Ruffner said he wanted to quell speculation that the school attempted to limit van Heerden's access to the media.
"Nothing could be further from the truth," Ruffner wrote. "LSU continues to be deeply committed to First Amendment rights, as well as unfettered academic freedom."
Ruffner wrote then problems arose "relating to his technical and professional expertise to comment on levees and construction matters because he is trained in geology and botany, and not civil engineering."
Yeah, yeah, yeah, the powers at LSU shut him up because he was not an engineer. It's true that Ivor is not an engineer, but Team Louisiana, the group that Ivor assembled to inspect the levees after Katrina, included engineers. Plus, it doesn't hurt to have someone on the team who knows something about geology, does it?
We're saving the money we would have donated to LSU to buy our lifeboat for the hurricane season.
It's good to see folks come out in support of Ivor.
This is a regional problem, and it seems no one regional reads your blog,..so why bother?!?
ReplyDeleteIt's not just a regional problem. Just because people don't leave comments doesn't mean that they're not reading. Lurkers abound. Besides telling the truth to power has always gotten people in trouble. Just look at the head of the Church, Jesus, the Christ.
ReplyDeleteRegional?
ReplyDeleteI think this touches everyone. It may touch the residents of Louisiana first, but to think of it as solely a regional issue and to add the why bother confuses me.
This situation is not only very real for Louisiana but is also a harbinger for so much of what ails our country and our world.
I got so sidetracked by my comment that I neglected to say bravo for Ivor.
ReplyDeleteTruth-telling always comes with a high price.
Ivor violated that first commandment of American academic life, go along and get along. He wouldn't play ball, so they canned him. The little credentials complaint sounds very lame to me, an ineffective fig leaf. I should think a geologist would be abundantly qualified to speak on these matters.
ReplyDeleteDavid G., sorry you don't approve. Ivor is a friend of ours, and I'm going to beat the story to death. It's my blog, you know.
ReplyDeleteAcademic freedom and the quality of work done by the US Corps of Engineers affect all of us in the country.
In a world (and universe) as interrelated as ours, it is hard to view any problem (or success) as strictly regional. I never expected to be working in New Orleans but I did last summer and the levees mattered to ME, especially when Gustav visited. And now that I know people in Louisiana, the levees still matter to me. Hell, back in the days after Katrina they mattered to all of us, whether we knew individuals or not. This is an issue of national scandal and shame. I pray for the safety of people depending on those levees.
ReplyDeleteThanks to all of you who DO get it.
ReplyDeleteYou probably don't remember me. I commented on your blog a couple of times years ago. But now one of your favorite blog owners has told his 'followers' not to respond to me. Does that apply to his blog only or to his 'regulars?' Jack
ReplyDeleteJack, I don't remember your comments from years ago. I have no idea what you mean by "one of your favorite blog owners". No one owns my blog but me. Oh and Blogger, I suppose. I make my own rules here, and they are simple:
ReplyDelete1. No anonymous comments
2. No personal attacks
3. No name-calling
Trolls who persistently annoy me and my readers will eventually get on my nerves enough that I will ban them.
You seem a tad combative in your comment, but I won't preemptively ban you or shun you because "my favorite blog owner" does.
Mimi, we all change. I remember this kind, wise, gentle Mimi. On the "other" blog....well, that Mimi is not the one I knew. I was just going to make some comments about opera. But I'm afraid even this 'comment' will bring out the dogs against me and my stepsons.So I will check on your "opera" post, but will not comment. Jack
ReplyDeleteJack, my blog has probably changed more than I have. In the beginning, I was much more cautious, but I've grown bolder and somewhat edgier, and what you see now reflects the real me, more than the posts in the beginnings of my blogging days. I hope that I still have a kind and gentle side, but the irony and the urge to speak out against what I see as injustice was always present.
ReplyDeleteI have only one dog, and she is not likely to attack you. I do have my al Gaydha and other friends who are kind enough to come to my defense against really mean types, but I doubt this comment will serve to bring them out.
I am no expert on opera, and I have a nerve to even attempt commentary, but I do it anyway. If you disagree with something I said in one of the opera posts, go ahead and speak up.
Mimi, you see I broke my word. I am 1000000000 times as mean as you.I said I would not comment, but here I am. I am not a troll. I have my own blog and follow about five others. I sent my stepsons to one, they followed all the rules, then got demeaned in the most vicious manner including highly insulting remarks about their body parts.Yes, they did fight back. I do have some things I would like to say about opera. I never discuss opera with snobs or "connoisuers" (sp?).That is why you appeal to me. (Said poorly,no offense). So let me wait and see if the "dogs" (hate to use that since I love all animals)come after me. You may want to erase this. I will not be offended. Jack
ReplyDeleteOh, this is the guy who posted on Mad Priest's site, I think, about sex. He thought things got a bit rough over there. Which they do, of course, having been bruised a bit myself there lately. But that's maddie's place.
ReplyDeleteIT, thanks. I was wondering. I'm not interested in sex talk here, so I hope that's not what Jack has in mind.
ReplyDeleteThings do get a bit rough over at MadPriest's place for "kind, wise, gentle" me, but I manage to bear up.
See, Mimi, the "dog" did come out. I see you are a true member of the "club." I could refute lies, but you are not interested. Opera=sex. Shame on you!!! Jack
ReplyDeleteJack, IT is not a "dog". She is my friend. Let's be clear on that. Nor am I a member of a "club".
ReplyDeleteNot that I have anything against dogs. I like them.
I guess we're done, then.
I guess so. The people on MP told outrageous lies about my son. IT may be your friend. Do you have any interest in Truth or only the lies of your friends. I would be glad to e-mail you the details, but you probably don't give a damn.Any blog that says it 'covers' God, sex, and rock and roll, and then INVITES I repeat, INVITES a young man to ask a question, AFTER the young man has inquired at least 4 times if it was alright to ask and is assured it is okay and then starts smearing him, and then the "community" repeats lie after lie and sick comments about the young man---well I didn't think that was your cup of tea. A refined Episcopal lady!! Glad I left that group to support Catholic kids and grand kids. In MP style, you will probably want to erase this. Let me know if you want the truth. I'll e-mail it to you. Jack
ReplyDeleteJack, do not email me. I will publish your email address if you do.
ReplyDeleteI said we were done, and I mean it. I will delete further comments from you.
My feeling is that Dr. Van Heerdon was there for us when we needed him so we need to be there for him in this crisis in his life. This action by LSU is reprehensible.
ReplyDeleteDoctorj2u, welcome. You have it exactly right. We'd heard Ivor speak about the sorry conditions of the levees and the vulnerability of New Orleans for years before Katrina. What LSU did is shameful. He was the only one who told the truth, and he was right.
ReplyDeleteWoof!
ReplyDeleteI don't know what Jack is after, but he also posted at Mark Harris' site. I can'ttell if he is a troll trying to trap people, or genuine (the problem with the internet). So people are wary cause they don't konw him. Folks suggested that if his sons needed pastoral care that blog threads weren't hte place to get it.