As faculty of the UC Berkeley Mathematics Department, we are committed to taking an active role in maintaining a safe and inclusive workplace, free of sexual harassment. We feel that the University procedures currently in place fail to protect our students from sexual harassment, and allow perpetrators to remain in positions of authority and trust on campus, with minimal sanctions. The recent case of Prof. Geoff Marcy serves to illustrate this failure. The ineffectiveness of the current system has had devastating consequences for students and other vulnerable community members. We ask the UC administration to work with faculty and students to develop a transparent process in which cases of harassment and assault can be reported and dealt with in an effective manner, with meaningful sanctions when warranted.
The official letter is attached below.