Dear NY Times Editors,

We are writing to give feedback on a story which appeared in the October 11 edition of the NYTimes, titled "Geoffrey Marcy, Astronomer at Berkeley, Apologizes for Behavior" by Dennis Overbye. Appended at the end of this letter is a Letter to the Editor to be considered for publication.The authors of this letter are all professional astronomers and physicists, from across the world. Women are dramatically underrepresented in our field and other sciences, in part because of the sexism and misogyny that this article reinforced.

This article epitomizes the culture that champions the voices of predators and minimizes the experiences of survivors. Mr. Overbye's piece repeatedly sympathizes with Marcy, portraying him as a misunderstood, empathetic educator. This viewpoint is captured in the title of the article, and it is reinforced by quotes from Marcy and his wife that Marcy was "condemned without knowing all of the facts" and "the punishment Geoff is receiving here in the court of hysterical public opinion is far out of proportion to what he did". Not only are these statements false (see the next paragraph), but they employ the damaging tactic of painting female targets and their supporters as overly sensitive trouble-makers.

And we do know the facts. Berkeley undertook a formal investigation and found Marcy guilty of repeated harassment over almost a decade. Marcy abused his position of power, betrayed his responsibilities as an educator, and sexually assaulted students. Despite these truths, Marcy was not punished.

This article downplays Marcy's criminal behaviors and the profound damage that he has caused to countless individuals. It overlooks the continued trauma that Marcy inflicts to this day as a Berkeley professor, and it implicitly condones his predatory acts. In doing so, it discourages women from speaking out when they have been violated, and it undermines the safety and learning environment of all students.

Mr. Overbye has a serious conflict of interest in reporting this story as Overbye has a longterm collegial relationship with Marcy and has championed Marcy's work in previous NY Times articles (http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/13/science/finder-of-new-worlds.html). Overbye's bias is evident when Overbye refers to this situation as "Dr. Marcy's troubles" and when devoting three paragraphs at the top of the story on Marcy's wife's opinions of the crimes.

Moreover, Overbye omits several relevant details of the case. Specifically, the investigation found Marcy violated sexual harassment policies over a decade (2001-2010), a fact never mentioned in this article. Overbye also failed to capture the gravity of the crimes. For example, one complainant said, "Marcy placed his hand on her leg, slid his hand up her thigh, and grabbed her crotch” (http://www.buzzfeed.com/azeenghorayshi/famous-astronomer-allegedly-sexually-harassed-students). In another instance, Marcy was observed "giving an undergraduate a back massage, with his hand underneath her shirt, alone and after hours in the lab." In omitting this information and focusing on Marcy and his wife's feelings, Overbye fosters sympathy for a sexual predator and exacerbates the culture which allowed him to prey on unsuspecting students.

Marcy's story deserves national coverage because it demonstrates an extreme yet persistent problem that occurs on many college campuses and in many fields. For example, Marcy's case

parallels that of MIT physics professor, Walter Lewin. Mr. Overbye mentions the Lewin case, saying "Two years ago, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology... cut ties with Walter Lewin... after finding that he had sexually harassed at least one student." There are two factual errors in that sentence: MIT cut ties with Lewin less than one year ago, and the complainant brought evidence that Lewin harassed at least ten students, not one (https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/01/23/complainant-unprecedented-walter-lewin-sexual-harassment-case-comes-forward).

We request that you retract this article based on its false information, the clear bias of the author, the omission of relevant details, and the harm it is doing to your readers. Furthermore, we ask you in the future to consider that sympathy and support should be given to the survivors, not to the perpetrator.

Additionally, we have authored a brief Letter to the Editor to be considered for publication in the NY Times summarizing the short-comings of Overbye's article:

Re "Astronomer Apologizes for Behavior", October 11: By emphasizing Geoff Marcy's apology and his wife's opinions, this article champions the voice of a sexual predator and minimizes the continued trauma of his targets. Overbye's piece repeatedly sympathizes with Marcy, portraying him as a misunderstood, empathetic educator who was "condemned without knowing the facts" and given punishment "in the court of hysterical public opinion". Furthermore, given Overbye's long history of sourcing Marcy, the piece lacks the objectivity it deserves.

We do know the facts of this case. Berkeley undertook a formal investigation and found Marcy guilty of repeated harassment and sexual assault of students spanning almost a decade. Marcy abused his position of power, betrayed his responsibilities as an educator, and caused profound damage with his criminal acts. By overlooking the gravity of Marcy's predatory behavior, this article discourages women from speaking out and undermines the safety of students.

This story deserves national coverage because it demonstrates an extreme yet persistent problem on college campuses. However, sympathy and support should be given to the survivors, not the perpetrator.

Thank you,

268 astronomers and physicists: Prof. Laura Lopez, The Ohio State UniversityDr. Alicia Aarnio, University of Michigan Ann ArborProf. Tom Abel, Stanford UniversityDr. Asad Aboobaker, JPL/CaltechDr. Katey Alatalo, Carnegie ObservatoriesProf. Katelyn Allers, Bucknell UniversityDr. Patrick Allison, The Ohio State UniversityDr. Katie Auchettl, The Ohio State UniversityOindree Banerjee, Graduate Student, The Ohio State UniversityJennifer Barnes, PhD Candidate, UC BerkeleyDr. Joseph Barranco, San Francisco State University

Daniel Barringer, PhD candidate, Penn State UniversityProf. John Beacom, The Ohio State UniversityAida Behmard, Post-Bac Student, Princeton UniversityDr. Eric Bellm, California Institute of TechnologyCasey Berger, Graduate Student, UNC Chapel HillDr. Zach Berta-Thompson, MIT Kavli InstituteDr. Jonathan Bird, Vanderbilt UniversityProf. Elizabeth Blanton, Boston UniversityDr. Laura Blecha, University of Maryland College ParkDr. Slavko Bogdanov, Columbia UniversitySudeshna Boro Saikia, PhD Student, University of GoettingenAllison Bostrom, PhD Student, University of Michigan Ann ArborDr. Mia Bovill, Space Telescope Science InstituteDr. Brendan Bowler, University of Texas at AustinDr. Jessica Brinson, The Ohio State UniversityDr. Esra Bulbul, MITProf. Adam J. Burgasser, UC San DiegoDr. Blakesley Burkhart, Harvard UniversityNicole E. Cabrera Salazar, PhD candidate, Georgia State UniversityDr. Simon W. Campbell, Max-Planck-Institut für AstrophysikChris Cappiello, Graduate Student, The Ohio State UniversityDr. John Joseph M. Carrasco, Institute for Advanced Studies/CEA-SaclayProf. Caitlin Casey, University of Texas at AustinDr. Daniel Castro, MITHope How-Huan Chen, Graduate Student, Harvard UniversityProf. Ryan Chornock, Ohio UniversityProf. Sarah Church, Stanford UniversityDr. Jessie Christiansen, California Institute of TechnologyBrian Clark, Graduate Student, The Ohio State UniversityProf. Kim Coble, Chicago State UniversityDr. Michelle Collins, University of SurreyDr. Jennifer L. Connelly, Rochester Institute of TechnologyMonica K. Cook, Graduate Student, Georgia State UniversityDr. Lia Corrales, MIT Kavli InstituteProf. Nicolas Cowan, McGill UniversityProf. Steven Cranmer, University of Colorado BoulderDr. Kevin Croxall, The Ohio State UniversityDr. Kat Deck, California Institute of TechnologyProf. Wouter Deconinck, College of William & MaryProf. Kisha Delain, University of St. ThomasAleya Dhanji, Graduate Student, The Ohio State UniversityDr. Aleks Diamond-Stanic, University of Wisconsin-MadisonDr. Joshua S. Dillon, UC BerkeleyRachel Domagalski, Junior Specialist, UC BerkeleyDr. Michael Dunham, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for AstrophysicsProf. Cova Dvorkin, Harvard UniversityDr. Peter Edmonds, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics

Prof. Richard Easther, University of AucklandDr. Steven Ehlert, NASA Marshall Space Flight CenterXiao Fang, Graduate Student, The Ohio State UniversityMatthew Feickert, Graduate Student, Southern Methodist UniversityDr. Carl Ferkinhoff, Max Planck Institute for AstronomyDr. Ximena Fernández, Rutgers UniversityProf. Helene Flohic, University of the PacificProf. Ryan Foley, UIUCProf. Scott Franklin, Rochester Institute of TechnologyProf. Anna Frebel, MITProf. Linda French, Illinois Wesleyan UniversityJenna Freudenburg, Graduate Student, The Ohio State UniversityProf. Peter M. Frinchaboy, Texas Christian UniversityDr. Jim Fuller, California Institute of TechnologyProf. Bryan Gaensler, University of TorontoMolly Gallagher, Graduate Student, The Ohio State UniversityGrady A. Gambrel, PhD Candidate, The Ohio State UniversityDr. Pamela L. Gay, Southern Illinois University EdwardsvilleDiego Godoy Rivera, Graduate Student, The Ohio State UniversityDr. Nathan Goldbaum, UIUCProf. Valentino Gonzalez, Universidad de ChileDr. Natalie Gosnell, University of Texas at AustinProf. Andy Gould, The Ohio State UniversityDr. Catherine E. Grant, MIT Dr. Kate Grier, Penn State UniversityProf. Nicole Gugliucci, Saint Anselm CollegeDr. James Guillochon, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for AstrophysicsDr. Mark Gurwell, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for AstrophysicsAlex Hagen, PhD candidate, Penn State UniversityLea Hagen, PhD candidate, Penn State UniversityProf. Daryl Haggard, McGill UniversityDr. Duane Hamacker, University of New South WalesDr. Amanda Heiderman, University of VirginiaDr. Calen B. Henderson, Jet Propulsion Laboratory/CaltechProf. Christopher Hirata, The Ohio State UniversityDr. Renée Hložek, Princeton UniversityProf. Shirley Ho, Carnegie Mellon UniversityProf. Jennifer L. Hoffman, University of DenverJohn Hoffman, Graduate Student, Princeton UniversityDr. Bradford Holden, UCO/Lick ObservatoryProf. Tabetha Hole, Norwich UniversityTyler Holland-Ashford, Graduate Student, The Ohio State UniversityProf. Daniel Holz, University of ChicagoProf. Carol Hood, California State University, San BernadinoProf. Klaus Honscheid, The Ohio State University Prof. Sarah Horst, Johns Hopkins UniversityDr. Eric Huff, The Ohio State University

Dr. Daniela Huppenkothen, NYUDr. Seth Jacobson, Observatior de la Côte d'AzurProf. Hannah Jang-Condell, University of WyomingProf. Regina Jorgenson, Willamette UniversityProf. Donghui Jeong, Penn State UniversityProf. Jennifer Johnson, The Ohio State UniversityDr. Noé Kains, Space Telescope Science InstituteDr. Atish Kamble, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for AstrophysicsProf. Sheila Kannappan, UNC Chapel HillProf. Jeyhan Kartaltepe, Rochester Institute of TechnologyDr. Sarah Kendrew, University of OxfordDr. Bulent Kiziltan, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for AstrophysicsProf. Monika Kress, San Jose State UniversityDr. Andrea Kunder, Leibniz Institut für Astrophysik Potsdam (AIP)Kara Kundert, Undergraduate Student, University of Michigan Ann ArborProf. Cornelia C. Lang, University of IowaDr. Jasmina Lazendic-Galloway, Monash UniversityDr. Duane Lee, Shanghai Astronomical ObservatoryProf. Adam Leroy, The Ohio State UniversityProf. Yuexing Cindy Li, Penn State UniversityShirley Li, Graduate Student, The Ohio State UniversityJoshua Yao-Yu Lin, Graduate Student, National Taiwan UniversityDr. Adrian Liu, UC BerkeleyDr. Rachael Livermore, University of Texas at AustinCassi Lochhaas, Graduate Student, The Ohio State UniversityAdrian Lucy, PhD candidate, Columbia UniversityProf. Wladimir Lyra, California State University, NorthridgeDr. Katherine J. Mack, University of MelbourneMorgan MacLeod, PhD candidate, UC Santa CruzDr. Ann-Marie Madigan, UC BerkeleyProf. Sangeeta Malhotra, Arizona State UniversityProf. Massimo Marengo, Iowa State UniversityProf. Sera Markoff, University of AmsterdamProf. David J. E. Marsh, King's College London/Royal Astronomical SocietyMegan Marshall, Graduate Student, University of MarylandDaniel Martens, Graduate Student, The Ohio State UniversityProf. Paul Martini, The Ohio State UniversityChristopher Marvin, PhD Student, Institut für Astrophysik GoettingenMarissa McCauley, Penn State UniversityDr. Nicholas McConnell, NRC HerzbergProf. Elizabeth J. McGrath, Colby CollegeDr. Rosalie McGurk, Max Planck Institute for AstronomyProf. Timothy McKay, University of MichiganProf. Maura McLaughlin, West Virginia UniversityProf. Robert McNees, Loyola University ChicagoProf. Sean McWilliams, West Virginia UniversityProf. M. Virginia McSwain, Lehigh University

Dr. Anne Medling, Australia National UniversityDr. Scott Medling, Australia National UniversityDr. Peter Melchior, The Ohio State UniversityDr. Stefano Meschiari,  University of Texas at AustinProf. Brendan Miller, College of St. ScholasticaDr. Eric D. Miller, MIT Kavli InstituteJonah Miller, Graduate Student, Perimeter InstituteDr. Elisabeth A. C. Mills, U of Arizona Steward Observatory/National Radio Astronomy ObservatoryBlythe Moreland, Graduate Student, The Ohio State UniversityProf. Jorge Moreno, Cal Poly PomonaDr. Brian Morsony, University of Maryland College ParkDr. Gabriela Montes, UC Santa CruzProf. Miguel Mostafa, Penn State UniversityDr. Daniel Mortlock, Imperial College LondonDr. Tony Mroczkowski, Naval Research LaboratorySara Mueller, Graduate Student, The Ohio State UniversityProf. Philip S. Muirhead, Boston UniversityDr. Demitri Muna, The Ohio State UniversityDr. Nicholas A. Murphy, Smithsonian Astrophysical ObservatoryProf. Ruth Murray-Clay, UC Santa BarbaraDr. Jill Naiman, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for AstrophysicsKenny Ng, Graduate Student, The Ohio State UniversityDr. Joey Neilsen, MITDr. Clara Nellist, Laboratoire de l’Accélérateur Linéaire

Kathryn Nicolich, Graduate Student, The Ohio State UniversityDr. Kai Noeske, Max Planck Institute for AstronomyGulden Othman, Graduate Student, UNC Chapel HillZach Pace, Graduate Student, University of Wisconsin at MadisonVaishali Parkash, PhD Student, Monash UniversityDr. Laura Parker, McMaster UniversityDr. David Parkinson, University of QueenslandDr. Rachel Paterno-Mahler, University of MichiganDr. Molly S. Peeples, Space Telescope Science InstituteProf. Hiranya Peiris, University College LondonJamon Pennicott, PhD Candidate, Monash UniversityDr. Matthew Penny, The Ohio State UniversityDr. Sebastian Perez, Universidad de ChileAshley Perko, PhD Candidate, Stanford UniversityProf. Eric Perlman, Florida Institute of TechnologyProf. Annika Peter, The Ohio State UniversityProf. Sara Petty, Virgnia TechDr. Jonathan Pober, Brown UniversityDr. Radoslaw Poleski, The Ohio State UniversityProf. Matthew Povich, Cal Poly PomonaDiana Powell, Graduate Student, UC Santa CruzDr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, MIT

Alexandra Rahlin, Graduate Student, Princeton UniversityMatthias Raives, Graduate Student, The Ohio State UniversityProf. Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz, UC Santa CruzProf. Lynne Raschke, College of St. ScholasticaMeredith L. Rawls, PhD Candidate, New Mexico State UniversityProf. Emily Rice, CUNY College of Staten IslandThomas Sean Rice, PhD student, University of Michigan Ann ArborDr. Thomas Robitaille, Max Planck Institute for AstronomyDr. David Rosario, Durham UniversityDr. Henry G. Roe, Lowell ObservatoryAnna Rosen, PhD candidate, UC Santa CruzProf. Gregory Rudnick, University of KansasAndres Salcedo, Graduate Student, The Ohio State UniversityProf. Paolo Salucci, SISSAProf. Karin Sandstrom, UC San DiegoDr. Katharine Schlesinger, Australia National UniversityDr. Wayne Schlingman, The Ohio State UniversityDr. Sarah Schmidt, Leibniz-Institut für Astrophysik PotsdamJosiah Schwab, PhD Candidate, UC BerkeleyDr. Victoria Scowcroft, Carnegie ObservatoriesJesse Shanahan, Graduate Student, Wesleyan UniversityProf. Jessie Shelton, UIUCDr. Ken Shen, UC BerkeleyGregory Simonian, Graduate Student, The Ohio State UniversityProf. Caroline Simpson, Florida International University (and past member of AAS CSWA)Melinda Soares-Furtado, graduate student, Princeton UniversityProf. Angela Speck, University of MissouriAlessondra Springmann, Graduate Student, University of ArizonaProf. Krzysztof Stanek, The Ohio State UniversityProf. Sumner Starrfield, Arizona State UniversityDr. Leo C. Stein, California Institute of TechnologyAbigail Stevens, PhD candidate, University of AmsterdamDaniel Stevens, Graduate Student, The Ohio State UniversityProf. Michael Strauss, Princeton UniversityDr. Linda Strubbe, University of British ColumbiaKasandara Sullivan, Graduate Student, The Ohio State UniversityAi-Lei Sun, PhD candidate, Princeton UniversityNoah Talisa, PhD Candidate, The Ohio State UniversityDr. Joshua Tan, Pontificia Universidad Católica de ChileDr. Angelle Tanner, Mississippi State UniversityJamie Tayar, Graduate Student, The Ohio State UniversityDr. Richelle Teeling-Smith, Marion Technical CollegeDr. Tea Temim, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and the University of Maryland College ParkDr. Shriharsh Tendulkar, McGill UniversityDr. Johanna Teske, Carnegie Institute for ScienceLindsey Thaler, The Ohio State UniversityProf. Todd Thompson, The Ohio State University

Anita Titmarsh, Graduate Student, University of TasmaniaProf. Lauren Tompkins, Stanford UniversityProf. Scott Trager, Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of GroningenDr. Ryan Trainor, UC BerkeleyDr. David Tsang, University of Maryland College ParkProf. Niescja Turner, Trinity UniversityDr. Sarah Tuttle, University of Texas at AustinProf. Alexander J. van der Horst, George Washington UniversityDr. R. Mark Wagner, The Ohio State UniversityDr. Lucianne Walkowicz, Adler PlanetariumDr. Laura Watkins, Space Telescope Science InstituteProf. Anna Watts, University of AmsterdamProf. Risa Wechsler, Stanford UniversityBen Wibking, Graduate Student, The Ohio State UniversityProf. Ralph Wijers, University of AmsterdamDr. Peter K. G. Williams, Harvard UniversityDr. Angie Wolfgang, Penn State UniversityDr. Jennifer Yee, Harvard UniversityProf. Elizabeth J. Young, Rhodes CollegeDr. Gail Zasowski, Johns Hopkins UniversityDr. Seth Zenz, Imperial College LondonDr. Zhaohuan Zhu,  Princeton UniversityDr. Claire Zukowski, Columbia University