EFTA00812451.pdf

MU &SCHOOL OF EARTH SPACE EXPLORATION ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES P.O. BOX 871404 TEMPE, AZ 85287- I404 Lawrence M. Krauss Professor, SESE and Physics Co-Director, Cosmology Initiative October 21, 2018Octobcr 20, 201g Michael Crow President, Arizona State University PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL Dear Michael I am-vontaig-this-eenfieential-letter-twrequest to retire from my position as Professor in the School of Earth and Space Exploration and Physics Department at ASU at the end of this academic year, May 16, 2019r and will move on to explore new ehallenges-eutside of MU after that. Following the unfortunate-abrupt cancellation by the University of the Origins 10th anniversary celebration in March and the more recent termination dismantling of The Origins Project and removal of its associated online resources I find there is little reason for me to remain here after this academic year. The Origins Project was, after all, the prime reason I relocated to ASU in 2008--the-eFeatien Physics Department and School of Earth and Space Exploration were what drcw mc to MU in 200g there is less cause to induce me to t ' to remain here after this academic year. Mitt-addition,my recent experience at the University, following the publication of un€ounded-and inapprepriateunsubstantiated allegations against me by an online tabloid has also left me feeling personally disillusioned about the University's commitment to a safe and productive working environment. During the processes of investigation, determinations, appeal and conciliation, I 4 perceived these-experienees-te-have-Meluded-violations of due process, disregard for evidence, discrimination, and-bias, violation of Arizona Board oUf Regents fABOR) regulations, and conduct that was at various times ef-paFtieipants-in-these-pmeesses-that-was-unprofessional, adversarial, an envirentnent-asseeiated-with-theitivestigatien-and-the-eemmuttieatien-and-reseluntm-eFissues-that-that was-by-tams-either-hostile, disingenuous or unresponsive. I have-described some of my concerns in detail in the materials I sent to you deeuments-l-sent-rau-on August 24th and 28th and 30th appealing the Dean's recommendation of dismissal and contesting the-determinations from the Provost's detenninatiens-based-en4he-detenninatiens-and from the Office of Equity and Inclusion. In spite of thislt is my understanding of ABOR regulations that- I would only have the opportunity at the University-to directly challenge the veracity of claims made against me by accusers if I first agreed to be dismissed by you. I have chosen instead to retire. As far as I am aware, not a single one of my students, faculty colleagues, any staff member in my academic departments, postdoctoral researchers, or any of the thousands of participants in our Origins events over the past decade has complained to the University about my behavior. Nevertheless, my recent experiences suggest to me that I would not experience a-sace-er-tainuringm environment in 1 EFTA00812451 whiehconducive -to eentinue-continuing my active teaching, research and service activities on campus in the long term, regardless of the outcome of any appeal process. I look back on a decade during which I tried to make-a positive contributions to the ASU community through what I felt-thought was integrity, dedication, and hard work. It has pained me to see-watch those features-professional characteristics, and my contributions, questieneddisparaged. I think it would be useful for the University's leadership team to reflect on what lessons my experience might provide that could influenee-breaderinforrn actions that-yememild-take-to improve the functioning-e€the-University's ability to ensure and-preduee-a safer and mere productive environment for others at ASU. I plan-te-dE these issues and some prepesals-reecommendations in more depth in a separate letter I will send you in due course. I want to close by thanking you for giving me the opportunity to come to ASU to work with you to create and build The Origins Project which I think achieved more than perhaps either of us expected when you recruited me to the University a little more than a decade ago. Thanks for your attention to this letter. Sincerely, Lawrence M. Krauss 2 EFTA00812452