Author Steven Galloway testified at his B.C. Supreme Court defamation trial that people who backed a 2016 “UBC Accountable” letter later faced damaging social and professional consequences.
The Story
Steven Galloway, an author and former University of British Columbia professor, said in B.C. Supreme Court that people who signed a letter criticizing UBC’s handling of a misconduct case against him faced “extremely hurtful” comments and suffered socially and professionally.
Galloway made the remarks while being questioned by his own lawyer during a trial in which he alleges he was defamed by a former student and others over unproven sexual assault allegations that led to his firing from the university.
Galloway said the letter, known as “UBC Accountable,” was published in November 2016 with signatories from the literary community, including Margaret Atwood, but that many signatories removed their names after a wave of vitriolic criticism online.
He testified that some supporters lost jobs and that friendships were damaged, including testimony that one signatory called him in tears and said her daughter was never going to speak to her again.
Galloway also said a number of friends, including some who believe in his innocence, stopped talking to him because being associated with him would be “career suicide.”
The lawyer for the woman who accused Galloway said Wednesday that the defence no longer includes an assertion that Galloway sexually assaulted her.
Galloway’s career, according to his testimony, was ended by the claims of sexual assault and his subsequent university suspension; he said he now sells yachts for a living.
← More stories