UC Berkeley's Geoff Marcy Resigns

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.

Once the investigation in to Professor Marcy’s conduct concluded, Berkeley’s leadership considered disciplinary options, but did not have the authority, as per University of California policy, to unilaterally impose any disciplinary sanctions. Discipline of a faculty member would include an additional faculty-led investigation, and a full hearing before a faculty committee, is a lengthy and uncertain one. In addition, the standards of evidence that would be used in that process 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 faculty-led process would also be subject to a three-year statute of limitations. Nicholas B. Dirks Claude M. Steele Chancellor Executive Vice Chancellor & Provost