Geoff Marcy, Famed Berkeley Astronomer, To Resign Amid Sexual Harassment Allegations

Geoff Marcy, a famous astronomer and UC Berkeley professor, will resign following allegations of sexual harassment over a nine-year period, the school confirmed to Patch.

Buzzfeed, citing an astronomy department email, was the first to report the resignation after it published a bombshell report Friday detailing the extent of Marcy’s sexual harassment, which included “unwanted massages, kisses and groping” of at least four students.

Marcy also resigned Monday from Breakthrough Initiative, a $100 million project to search for signs of extraterrestrial life in the universe, where he served as principal investigator.

A six-month Berkeley investigation found Marcy violated “campus sexual harassment policies between 2001 and 2010,” according to Buzzfeed.

The report listed four complainants, three of which were interviewed by Buzzfeed, but did not result in much internal discipline, Buzzfeed reported.

Marcy was given “clear expectations concerning his future interactions with students,” which if not followed would lead to “sanctions that could include suspension or dismissal,” but nothing else following the report, according to Buzzfeed.

“After all of this effort and trying to go through the proper channels, Berkeley has ultimately come up with no response,” Joan Schmelz, who used to lead the American Astronomical Society’s Committee on the Status of Women in Astronomy, told Buzzfeed.

UC Berkeley confirmed the resignation in a statement sent to Patch but defended the school’s decision to not levy discipline following the school’s investigation.

One complainant, who wanted to remain anonymous, told the website that Marcy “placed his hand on her leg, slid his hand up her thigh and grabbed her crotch” at a department event at the University of Hawaii.

Jessica Kirkpatrick said she saw Marcy get “inappropriately touchy” with an undergrad at an American Astronomical Society meeting in Washington, DC, in 2010.

Sarah Ballard told Buzzfeed that after Marcy gave her a ride home from a cafe, he began to rub her back in the car.

Marcy wrote a letter Wednesday, October 7, apologizing for his actions but said, “While I do not agree with each complaint that was made, it is clear that my behavior was unwelcomed by some women.”

An online petition supporting “people who were targets of Geoff Marcy’s inappropriate behavior” already has more than 2600 signatures from scientists worldwide.

See the full UC Berkeley statement below:

This morning Professor of Astronomy Geoff Marcy resigned from the UC Berkeley faculty. We believe this outcome is entirely appropriate and have immediately accepted his resignation.

UC Berkeley’s reaction to the finding that Professor Geoff Marcy violated the University’s sexual harassment policies has been the subject of understandable criticism and anger.

Before describing the disciplinary options that were available to us, we want to state unequivocally that Professor Marcy’s conduct, as determined by the investigation, was contemptible and inexcusable. We also want to express our sympathy to the women who were victimized, and we deeply regret the pain they have suffered.

It is important to understand that as Berkeley’s leadership considered disciplinary options, we did not have the authority, as per University of California policy, to unilaterally impose any disciplinary sanctions, including termination. Discipline of a faculty member is a lengthy and uncertain process. It would include a full hearing where the standards of evidence that would be used are higher than those that are applied by the Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination(OPHD) in the course of its investigations. The process would also be subject to a three-year statute of limitations.

Our objective was to protect our students by immediately preventing any re-occurrence of the behavior described in the investigative report. We thus chose to establish, in writing, a strict set of behavioral standards that went beyond what is specifically proscribed by the University’s rules and regulations. In addition, the agreement authorized the administration to by-pass the lengthy, uncertain disciplinary process by stripping the professor of a faculty member’s usual due process rights.

We recognize and share the frustration that many have expressed, and we are committed to work with the Office of the President and the Academic Senate to reform the University’s disciplinary processes, criteria and standards so that in the future we have different and better options for discipline of faculty.

We also want our campus community to know that we fully support new efforts now underway in a number of departments and colleges to address cultural issues and standards related to sexual harassment. We must do everything in our power to create the conditions necessary for quick and confidential reporting of suspected violations of our rules and standards of conduct.

• Read the full Buzzfeed investigation into Marcy here

Image via UC Berkeley