IOWA CITY (AP) - A University of Iowa professor is circulating a petition asking officials to reconsider a decision to fire the school's general counsel.

By Wednesday, 82 people had signed the petition seeking the reinstatement of Marcus Mills.

Iowa President Sally Mason fired Mills and vice president for student services Phillip Jones on Sept. 23 after they were criticized in an independent review of the university's response to an alleged sexual assault of a student-athlete. Two former football players were charged in the case.

Political science professor Michael Lewis-Beck said he started the petition for several reasons. Lewis-Beck wanted to help restore Mills' reputation, give Mills a chance to discuss the incident on the record, and hopes it could prompt the university to offer him a job.

Mills had worked at Iowa since 1990.

"I'm not speaking as his agent here," Lewis-Beck said. "He's not told me he would even want (a job at the university). I can see why he would say thanks but no thanks."

Lewis-Beck said most who have signed the petition are faculty members.

University spokeswoman Linda Kettner said she hasn't seen a copy of the petition. She wouldn't comment on whether Mason might reconsider her decision to fire Mills.

"People have strong opinions in this case, and they have every right to express them," Kettner said.

The petition states:

"We, those of us named below, believe that the university leadership should reconsider the firing of Marcus Mills, from his position as University of Iowa General Counsel. We disagree strongly with the method, timing and lack of due process, particularly in light of the decades of service, loyalty and dedication he has provided our institution."

Mills didn't immediately return a phone call seeking comment. He previously has said he felt unfairly singled-out by the independent review.

Lewis-Beck said the firings have undermined Mason's leadership at the university, just over a year after she began work as president. He said faculty members are publicly and privately questioning her ability to lead the school.

"She's learning something about how people out there in the trenches feel," Lewis-Beck said. "You can't be a leader if you don't have followers. She's losing her followers."

He said the firings have some Iowa faculty concerned that school officials won't back them up if they find themselves in a difficult situation.

"This sends a chill through the university," he said. "There are a lot of people here, and they think 'Gee, if someone like Marc Mills could have his head lopped off this way, maybe it could happen to me.' "

Although Jones also was fired, Lewis-Beck said he didn't include him in the petition because he doesn't know the administrator well.

The alleged assault was reported in October 2007. Former Iowa football players Abe Satterfield and Cedric Everson have been charged in the case and are scheduled to stand trial next month.