Willenbring, now an associate professor at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego, California, had alleged, in a lengthy complaint filed with BU in October 2016, and reported on by Science last month, that Marchant also physically harassed her, throwing stones at her while she was urinating, blowing
volcanic ash in her eyes, and pushing her down a steep,
rocky slope several times.
Thornton was captivated by the
volcanic rock foreshore site capping Possession Point from the first day he clamoured on to the
rocky slope from a boat, the only access means at that time.