BERKELEY, CALIF. — A prominent astronomer is resigning from the University of California after an investigation found he sexually harassed female students, according to a senior administration official.
The official was not authorized to speak publicly about professor Geoffrey Marcy’s resignation until the process is complete. The university has not released details of a six-month investigation into one of the world’s leading experts on planets outside Earth’s solar system, which found he violated the campus’ sexual harassment policies.
The inquiry, which ended in June, stemmed from complaints from former students and involved incidents dating as far back as 2001.
An e-mail to Marcy wasn’t returned immediately. He apologized last week, but the university has faced growing pressure to fire him.
After the investigation and the nature of the complaints first were reported by BuzzFeed News, the school said Marcy had agreed to clear parameters around his behavior.
