EFTA00812328.pdf

Lawrence M. Krauss November 2017 In July 2017 an unsubstantiated third party report was sent to two universities with which I am affiliated, suggesting that during a selfie session at a private banquet in Australia, unrelated to either school, I had touched an unidentified individual's breast (not the anonymous complainant) A selfie was attached, showing no contact, but implying that because my hand was in front of the camera, contact occurred after the photo was taken. I have posed for perhaps 5000 selfies over the past decade, and I take great pride in making people feel comfortable. People who come up to me photos are very vulnerable, and I recognize this and work to make them feel at ease and treat them with respect In any case, both Universities independently investigated the allegation (One university issued a temporary proactive suspension, even though the original report was unsubstantiated). Both University investigations found the report without support and defamatory (which would be subject to libel if publicly reported) and the temporary suspension by one was ended. Both concluded no violations of University policy took place. Moreover, at least one of the investigations obtained evidence inconsistent with the original claim. Attached is an excerpt from the original report of that university: 'The allegation is that during the process of a conference attendee taking a 'sae with you at the convention gala dnner on Saturday 26 November 2016. you reached over the conference attendees right shoulder and gabbed the conference attendees right breast with your right hand, moments after the conference attendee took a photograph with their mobile phone...lt is the University's understanding that a complaint was lodged directly to the conference organisers at the time of the incident' The final investigation yielded the following: *. The complaint id not identify, nor disclose the identity of the conference attendee who was allegedly touched in an unwelcome manner. • The conference attendee who took the 'selfie' photo did not lodge a formal complaint to the conference organisers at the time of the incident (November 2016). • The conference attendee who witnessed the incident, did not lodge a formal complaint to the conference organisers at the time of the incident (November 2016). • The photo submitted as part of the complaint does not provide evidence of any physical contact • The complainant alleged that a photo exists, showing your hand on the breast of the conference attendee who took the 'sere' photo. This photo was not made available to the Australian National University, although it was requested ki the course of the investigation.' Lawrence M. Krauss ■ EFTA00812328