A New Orleans-based organization began campaigning to publicly display its disagreement after the University fired professor and scientist Ivor van Heerden.Under the direction of Levees.org, the protesters are rallying together to form a demonstration in front of the LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans today at 10 a.m. “This is much bigger than Ivor van Heerden,” said Levees.org director Sandy Rosenthal. “It’s about the citizens.” Levees.org was founded shortly after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. It was created to tell the public that the city flooded not because of a natural disaster but because of engineering failure, Rosenthal said.  The protest is in response to the University firing van Heerden, a prominent voice for Louisiana, she said. And Rosenthal is anticipating a large turnout for the rally.”Since our phones are ringing off the hook, and our e-mail boxes are filled with messages from people who are angry, we have decided to respond with a rally so people can be heard,” Levees.org members said on the Web site. The University notified van Heerden on April 9 that his yearly contract as research professor in the Department of Engineering would not be renewed in 2010, and he was stripped of his title as deputy director for the LSU Hurricane Center. Van Heerden said he was aware of the protest but had nothing to do with organizing the event. The quick response to the decision could be because people recognize what the Hurricane Center did during and after Katrina, van Heerden told The Daily Reveille on Wednesday.While van Heerden was appointed as a board member for Levees.org about six months ago, he was not part of heading the organization, Rosenthal said. Levees.org members have written a petition for Chancellor Michael Martin and posted the letter on the Web site. University spokeswoman Kristine Calongne said the Chancellor was aware of the petition but didn’t comment by press time. Levees.org director posted the petition at about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday and by 7:30 p.m. the list contained 840 signatures. Petitioners from Seattle to San Diego to Chicago signed the letter along with many Louisianians. “I understand that you have stripped Dr. Ivor van Heerden of his title as deputy director of the LSU Hurricane center,” the letter for the chancellor read. “This is a huge loss for the citizens of south Louisiana … and I request that you reconsider those decisions.” Rosenthal said he and Levees.org “are pleased that people understand.” The petition is more than about the professor, she said. It’s about the safety of the Louisiana and more opportunities for development. Van Heerden said he has not made any move to file any legal actions against the University because there is room for negotiations. “It would be very beneficial if the chancellor and I had a one-on-one [meeting],” van Heerden said.—-Contact Joy Lukachick at [email protected]