Professor, the question appears more complex. What is your version of the facts?
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«In May of last year I had a small internal investigation which was opened because I had sent emails that were considered” inappropriate “to a person in the laboratory. The investigation was done in great detail because Harvard does not burrow anything, no matter what. And already in August everything came back, I can document it. The conclusion is that it was a marginal, contained episode and that I am not a rascal that goes with any woman in the laboratory. In essence, it was a romantic misdeed. Non sexual. ”
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Her “attention” to the researcher would however last for months. Can you confirm?
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“Yes, not quite a few days … Basically it was a romantic exchange that lasted for two, three months.”
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The researcher would have explicitly asked her not to persevere. Don’t you think that his attitude may have put this young professional in difficulty?
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«Mine is an absolutely unfair behavior if you look at it from a formal point of view and for this reason I was investigated and I apologized; but it is a behavior that if seen on the side of a person who has taken a skid is legitimate. I have never used offensive or vulgar terms in emails ».
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Can you say you used the same tone aloud? Have you ever threatened career impediments in the event of a refusal?
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«Never, never. Besides, why should I have damaged it, since my aim was romantic? What pains me is that for a romantic and emotional question, an enormous uproar has occurred, when the feelings were totally genuine and positive. If anyone had to be angry it was my wife. And she understood that I had a moment of weakness. I apologized and it ended there. “
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Schneider and Balter claim that Harvard would force her to leave. It’s true?
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“Absolutely not. It is I who left, resigning. I will act legally against these two gentlemen, who bring charges against me. Harvard suspended me because, as is right, at the time of an investigation, the person being investigated should not be placed in a position to pollute the evidence. But then in August they told me that everything had returned. I only had to attend a sort of rehabilitation course at the end of which I was again considered suitable for teaching and scientific direction ».
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“Yes, I had to study American legislation, which is different from ours. Some things are tolerated in some states, while others are not. For example, they asked me if I was a hugger, or if I hugged people. Because that too could be understood as sexual harassment. Realizes? Of course, we all did it before Covid. So they explained to me that in America if you want to be affectionate you squeeze a hand tightly, if you want to show even more affection you use two hands ».
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From Boston they say she hadn’t returned to the lab since May 2019.
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“It’s not true. In September I held a seminar, I have the papers. And I’ve always kept in touch with the lab. “
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Will he still take on the job at Vimm in Padua?
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“I hope this thing can be healed. And in any case, resignation is not something that directly affects me. If I didn’t follow the procedures, what did I know? It only amazes me that this thing comes out now, that I have come back to help my country ».
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But would you, who is considered a science star, return to Italy anyway?
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“Sure. I have a letter to my wife 25 years ago, when we arrived in New York for the first time: I promised her that we would return home one day. Before retirement ».
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June 27, 2020 (change June 27, 2020 | 06:58)
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