Investigators find UCSC professor engaged in sexual misconduct
A UC Santa Cruz professor was placed on leave after investigators found he violated the UC Policy on sexual harassment.
Accusations of sexual assault and harassment were made towards professor Gopal Balakrishnan back in December of 2017.
Several students shared statements describing their encounters with the professor and posted this online: “We are writing this statement to let our community know that Gopal Balakrishnan has a pattern of using his position of power as a professor and influential academic to intimidate, harass, and even assault young women and gender nonconforming people. We have heard multiple first-person and witness accounts, and are including here statements describing such behavior. These statements are not all of the accounts of which we are aware. They simply represent the experiences of people who were willing to tell their stories. They describe direct acts against individuals, as well as a broader culture of misogyny and enabling. We want to affirm our support for the authors of the statements, as well as the UCSC students who have organized on their campus to bring GB’s behavior to light.”
Balakrishnan told KION the statements made by students were false.
Now that the investigation is over UCSC Provost/ Vice Chancellor Marlene Tromp said they are moving to the next step in the procedures for the disciplinary process. Balakrishnan has been placed on leave.
“We expect everyone in our campus community to know that sexual harassment and sexual misconduct are at odds with the values of our campus. Like all of you, I want UC Santa Cruz to be free from sexual misconduct of any kind. I am deeply troubled when I hear allegations about anyone being abused, harassed, or marginalized. Our campus is one that strives to welcome everyone and treat them equitably. This case–and the many others inside and outside academia–serves as a reminder of how much further we have to go as a campus and as a culture,” said Vice Chancellor Tromp.
Following the sexual misconduct case, UCSC is inviting comments on proposed revisions to the Presidential Policy on Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment. Comments can be submitted to the Policy Coordination Office at pco@ucsc.edu by Dec. 14.
KION’s Zach Fuentes will have more at 5 and 6 p.m.
