News Famous Berkeley Astronomer Violated Sexual Harassment Policies Over Many Years

[GLS]

Famous Berkeley Astronomer Violated Sexual Harassment Policies Over Many Years

A university investigation into astronomer Geoff Marcy, exclusively obtained by BuzzFeed News, has determined that he violated sexual harassment policies at UC Berkeley. Marcy has written a public apology, though he denies some of the investigation’s findings.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/azeenghorayshi/famous-astronomer-allegedly-sexually-harassed-students

I've watched him in many documentaries over the years... I still don't know what to say except "holy ". Just goes to show that idiots come in all shapes and forms :facepalm:.



(my apologies if this should have been posted in the Basement or Spaceflight News)

 

[Urwumpe]

From what I can read about what he really did: Yes, that is classic sexual harassment. No, it is not the worst kind of it. It is just an getting annoyingly close to somebody else, which could also be counted as him just not getting the necessary slapping for it because the women he harassed had been his students (in an dependent position).

Would he have done so on unrelated women, it would have been stupid, but not a reason to talk much about what he is doing wrong. But in that kind of position, it is really more about punishing those who you can punish, than about the actual severity of the case. He deserves all that flak that he gets now, because exposing him that way also makes sure that victims of other such teachers are encouraged to not be silent about their harassment.

 

[Codz]

Clearly no professional, or academic field is free of idiocy. Here's hoping this at least serves to improve the situation for female students and faculty overall.

 

[Andy44]

"Unwanted massages, kissing, and groping..."

Really? How hard is it to just keep your hands to yourself?

I don't know what it's like where you all work, but in my American corporate world they make us watch cheesy, poorly-acted videos at least once a year telling you not to do this EXACT thing. The acting is so hammy it's hard to watch, and it's well-known that the only reason we have to watch them is to cover the company in case they get sued over something you did.

They don't teach you anything you shouldn't already have learned from your parents, or from normal interaction with other people: keep your stinking paws off, you damn dirty ape!

 

[GLS]

small update
Berkeley astronomer in sexual harassment case to resign
http://www.nature.com/news/berkeley-astronomer-in-sexual-harassment-case-to-resign-1.18582