Atwood and Martel among Canadian writers drawn into row over creative writing tutor's sacking

Margaret Atwood and Yann Martel join authors calling for investigation into dismissal of Steven Galloway – but critics say move could ‘silence’ abuse victims

Fierce controversy is rocking Canada’s literary community over the sacking of a creative writing tutor at the University of British Columbia. More than 80 authors, including Margaret Atwood and Yann Martel, have signed an open letter calling for an independent investigation into the dismissal. But that protest has prompted further contention, with the signatories now accused of pressuring abuse victims into silence.

Steven Galloway, author of the novel The Cellist of Sarajevo, was the chairman of UBC’s creative writing program until November 2015, when he was suspended by the university for what it called “serious allegations”. He was then sacked in June, when UBC said there had been “a record of misconduct that resulted in an irreparable breach of … trust”.

My belief in due process and my belief in survivors are both parts of me, and I cannot sacrifice one for the other.

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