NYU faces backlash over potential hire accused of sexual harassment

Over 300 people have signed a petition condemning the potential hire of Dr. David Sabatini.

Editor's Note: The article was updated to correct a misquote by ABCNews.com of a line from a science.org story.

Backlash erupted this week against New York University's Grossman School of Medicine in response to reports the school is in discussions to hire Dr. David Sabatini, a biologist who is facing accusations of sexual harassment.

Sabatini resigned from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology earlier this month after a review by his department head, the dean of science and the provost recommended his tenure be revoked due to his violation of MIT’s policy on consensual relationships, according to a letter MIT President L. Rafael Reif sent to faculty.

"The reviewers found Professor Sabatini engaged in a sexual relationship with a person over whom he held a career-influencing role, he did not disclose the relationship at any time to his supervisors, and he failed to take any steps to relinquish his mentoring and career-influencing roles, as the policy requires," Reif said in the letter.