We the undersigned are Canadian literature and littérature québécoise scholars, writers, cultural workers and allies. Many of us have built our careers writing or writing about the stories people make in Canada and Quebec. We have made talking and thinking about the writing produced here our life’s work. We are also teachers who recognize that our primary duty of care is to our students.
That is why we are shocked and appalled by the letter signed by many prominent Canadian writers defending Steven Galloway. We agree that context for Steven Galloway’s suspension has not been made public, yet, and that he has not been charged with anything. But we also note that the open letter expresses great concern for Steven Galloway, and no concern for the women who came forward. The letter also questions the process of the University of British Columbia in handling the case and calls for an independent inquiry because “justice” requires it, in the view of the signatories.
We are angered by this letter of “support,” because no support was expressed for the female complainant or for the other female students who felt it was safe to make complaints after Steven Galloway was suspended. We are furious that there is only support for Galloway himself because he is a fellow writer, and because he is friends with many who signed the letter.
To us, it is outrageous that women in Canada come forward and seek justice for being sexually harassed, raped and bullied at school, work or on the street, and then they are treated as if they were the perpetrators. We are in a climate in which women’s experiences and stories are so frequently dismissed that we do not believe there is anything brave about publicly doubting women’s voices. We believe in a transparent and fair process for all parties involved, not just those with recognizable names.
Those who signed the letter could have called for transparency from the University of British Columbia, for the good of its Creative Writing Program, its instructors, and its students. But they didn’t. They chose to close ranks around one of their own and to say nothing about what the women who came forward actually want and need. The complainants have spoken out and are on record. There is media coverage of their accounts. But the open letter doesn’t mention any of that. It centres Steven Galloway as the only relevant figure in this case. The women who have come forward are silenced and rendered invisible by what the letter assumes about them.
As those who write, teach and love Canadian literature, we want those women to know that we are with them. In a world where perpetrators are believed and rewarded, and complainants are accused and harassed, we stand against the position in the open letter of November 15, 2016 supporting Steven Galloway. We support the independent inquiry at the University of British Columbia. We support the women who came forward. We stand with them, because it’s right, and because we believe them.
We invite those who signed the open letter to the University of British Columbia to withdraw their signatures and call for a fair and open process based on a recognition of the realities of rape culture.
Respectfully,
Julie Rak
Heather Milne
terry goldie
Hannah McGregor
Marcelle Kosman
Jenanne Ferguson
Sean O'Brien
Alasdair Rees
Sally Scott
Danielle Fuller
Taylor Scanlon
Tamara Harder
Candida Rifkind
Jason Purcell
Emily Hoven
Matt Bowes
Renate Kahlke
Adam Kneeland
Sarah Brophy
Anne Caughlan
John Bell
Anna Forsyth
Victoria De Capua
David Jefferess
Catherine Ryczkiewicz
Sierra Robbins
Rachel Barber
Amanda Daignault
Jenny Dueck
laurie sluchinski
Brandon Kerfoot
Nikolai Dobrinsky
S. A. Schmidt
Amy Midanik-Blum
Alex Leslie
Genevieve Michaels
Alex Day
Silken Handford-Perronnet
Kim Smith
Kimberley Bewick
Rachel Godfrey
Jeremy Stewart
Kelsey McDougall
Christopher Coulson
Jenny Henkelman
Alexandra Boutros
Brigid Mckenna
Faith Jones
Chris Girard
Meredith Snyder
Caitlin Fisher
Anastasya Fateyeva
Shania Clarke
Sara Spike
Iinn Aosjia
Julia Ainsworth
zahra sunderani
Michelle Kelm
Rachel Lallouz
Kevin Rose
Molly Spencer
Jodi Swaby
Jennifer M
Kathryn Grafton
Elise Chenier
Alexis Kienlen
Naomi Girard
Julie Kaye
Kisha Supernant
Linda Morra
Elise Godfrey
angie conroy
Clare Hitchens
Emily Sirota
Anita Ledoux
Victoria Hinchcliffe
Samantha King
Martin Lukacs
Sheila Hancock
Bessie Aida Pino
Liz Howard
Rebecca Rustin
Cate Sercombe
Kristina Cooke
Sadie Laett-Babcock
Dianne Bateman
Germaine Duquesne
Kathryn Carter
Aimée Morrison
Megan Smiley
Merrianne Couture
Kevin McPherson
Sarah Bernstein
Anita Kanitz
C Abrams
Erika Boers
Kathleen Manion
Lindsay B-e
Mark Truscott
Samantha Healy
Guillaume Morissette
Adam Pottle
concetta principe
Patrick Callaghan
Scott Jackshaw
Aaron Kreuter
Marilyn Dumont
Susan Rudy
Kelsey Moskal
Sarah Krotz
Brent Bellamy
Matthew Stepanic
Shama Rangwala
Ryan Fitzpatrick
Norma Dunning
Jonathan Dyck
Rosa Bialski
Carrianne Leung
Nico Dicecco
Jeannie Kerr
Marie Carrière
Barbara Postema
Nancy Jo Cullen
Vicky Loras
Bart Vautour
Amanda Spallacci
Elizabeth Winsor
Jennifer Drew
Danielle Thierce
Jacqueline Warwick
Sonja Boon
Leslie Klodt
Mike Duffy
Laura Barnett
Lauren Boivin
Rami Schandall
Kaarina Mikalson
Susan Abbott
Holly Vetro
Jessie Kainz
Krissy Darch
Jake Pyne
Brian Dalton
Rebecca Smith-Mandin
Alec Butler
Helen Frost
S.L. Bondarchuk
Laura Ward
Jessica Dean
Milena Marinkova
Claire Christie
Dorothy Lander
Indrapramit Das
Claire Kelly
Melanie Mah
Rebecca Godderis
Lauri Stewart
Christine Manzer
Shawn Jordan
Lorraine James
Joan Waters
Dana Rilke
Cathy Rose
celia nord
Tarah Brookfield
Anna Lev
Claire Rillie
Sue Fisher
Lynn Kane
Jane Levan
Candice Klein
Meg Bjordal
Theresa Stevenson
Irene Pozzolo
Gillian Whitlock
Colleen Humbert
Karen Rivers
Mireille Frenette
Maggie Ross
Colleen Thomas
Shayne Golosky-Johnston
Jane Drover
Keely O'Brien
Sharon Bray
Augusta Jones
Adele Wolpert
Abby Borron
Hailee Crawford
Lori Bohn
Heather Young-Leslie
Noreen Duncan
Tim Dougherty
Amy Kaler
Gareth Neufeld
Orly Lael Netzer
Alaina Janz
Johanna Scholten
Riley Classen
Alexander Stonelake
Jennifer Lovegrove
Bronwyn Berg
Gloria Major
Kristy Weisshaar
margaret hanzimanolis
Mary Kim
Shawn Jordan
Aaron Vidaver
Colby Stolson
Diane Schoemperlen
nathan dueck
Andrew McWhinney
Manina Jones
Barbara Bell
Fionncara MacEoin
Gillian Roberts
Natalee Caple
Melissa Dalgleish
Anna Guttman
Roewan Crowe
KIrsten Pendreigh
Heather McLean
Mr. Alexis Godard
Safaneh Neyshabouri
Josina Robb
rob mclennan
Jillian Hartman
Lucia Lorenzi
Zoe Todd
Jennifer Andrews
Melissa Jacques
Kim Goldberg
Kim Trusty
Katherine Meloche
Jacqueline Dumas
mary catherine howes
Ariel Kroon
Sara Campos-Silvius
Elwood Jimmy
Chantal Shivanna Ramraj
Nikhil Jayadevan
Sonja Stone
Lydia Kwa
Peter Ives
Stephanie Pettigrew
Mary Chapman
Judy Davidson
Anna Sajecki
Jen Loewen
Alison Gadsby
Nyssa Sky
erna buffie
J Harry
Norman Vinson
Emily Tyler
Adele Perry
Lesley Glendinning
Nancy Dudley
Danielle Normandeau
Magaly San Martin
Michael Rohatynsky
Myrl Coulter
Adrien Guyot
Margot Francis
cindy pereira
Kathy Para
Delaney Booker
David Bateman
Lynne Squair
Michelle Hirose
Kathleen Gabelmann
Catherine Stonehouse
isabelle boisclair
Lynn Penrod
Angelo Muredda
David Gibson
Eugenia Sojka
Rebecca Sullivan
Meah Martin
Carly Vandergriendt
Janet Freeman
Richard Olafson
Spenser Smith
Jade DeFehr
weyman chan
Billy-Ray Belcourt
Laura Robinson
Alison Dowsett
Afifa H
Rhiannon Bury
Mary Anne McDougall
Stephanie Harrington
Lillian Lubyk
Frances Cole
Mary O'Connor
Angela Facundo
Robyn Bourgeois
Lucinda Rasmussen
Amanda Bourassa
Olivia Polk
Jasmine Thomas
Alicia Elliot
Bev Kliewer
Nora Flynn
Susan Sanford Blades
Soraya Peerbaye
Adam Kaluba
Michael Page
Kate Lilley
Brittany Johnson
Heather Wood
Laura Langdon
Wynn Anne Sibbald
Shawna Davis
Amber McMillan
Dan Schwartz
Elena Basile
Donavon Hee
Sean Cranbury
Dorryce Smelts
Mark Connery
Karina Vernon
Iliana Turner
Ariel Sernick
Zoe Whittall
Neta Gordon
Mary Maillard
Amy De'Ath
Marie Godbout
Julia Polyck-O'Neill
Erin Morton
Erin Robinsong
Sarah-Nelle Jackson
Bronwyn Haslam
Aaron Tucker
Mandi Gray
Leah Mol
Tamsyn Riddle
Jimmy McInnes
Darlene Dunn
Cristina Stasia
Michael Dudley
Erin LaRocque
Spencer Gordon
Kayje Nogue
Laura Pi
Kira Boyko
Kit Dobson
Arthur J McGregor
Melissa Steele
Catherine Heard
Meaghan McGraw
Katrina Hood
Rachel Brophy
Joseph Ren
Janet Cotgrave
Mary Novik
Amber Niemeier
Arlene (Terri) Brandmueller
Ariel Smith
Paul Martin
Catherine Leclerc
Susan Musgrave
Dorothy Woodman
Karol Pasciano
val speidel
Annika Rosanowski
Carol Davison
Heather Hortness
Laurie Petrou
Taya Thibeault
Carrie Smith-Prei
Heather Farrell
james robertson
Cathy LaRocque
Pilar Cuder
Braidon Schaufert
Michelle Henley
Angela Rebrec
Libe Garcia Zarranz
Paul Seesequasis
Mikiko Galpin
Marie-Genevieve Lane
Susanne Luhmann
maurice yacowar
Theresa Kenney
Janet MacArthur
Zaid Shahid
Autumn Getty
Gilbert McElroy
Bidisha Mamata
Elizabeth Petersson
Ruth Cuthand
Geoff Spurr
Margaret Brookfield
Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
David Hobbs
Gail Garden
Andrea Nicki
Meg Courtney
John Corr
Stephanie Fung
Heather Burles
Jennifer Warren
Andrew Burke
Fiona Thomson
Billy Stevenson
Chantelle Rideout
Lisa Guenther
Gregory Blomquist
Christopher Sanford Beck
maggie Lucas
Marcus Miller
Christine Lyons
Cheryl Peacock Smith
jazmin Miranda
Laurie McNeill
Michael Blouin
Nicole Moisan
Elaine Woo
Andrew Brittain
Anne Ellis
Sindre Kaspersen
Brian Lam
Matt Cormier
Kate Burgess
Andrea Actis
David Emery
Shirley R
Liz Koblyk
sue breeze
Jennifer Alabiso
Sarah Dowling
J. Mousseau
trish oliver
Maeve Hanna
Lisa Grekul
Lorraine York
Cy-Thea Sand
Nadine Flagel
Amanda Lim
Michele Hall
Leah Horlick
Susan Fast
Dominique Hetu
Emilia Nielsen
Laila Ferreira
Jackie Manthorne
Keavy Martin
Katja Thieme
Jonathan Himsworth
Jane Shi
Samantha Balzer
Patricia Dold
Brittney Hubley
Sonia Di Placido
Richard Moran
LUKAS MAITLAND
Marjory Lang
Cynthia Williams
Linda Rogers
Sable Sweetgrass
Nadia Pestrak
Amanda Peet
Sean Johnston
Misty Longman
David Stirrup
Eleanor Ty
Miriam Novick
Kay Shearer
David Kahane
Eddy Kent
Nancy Van Styvendale
ron freeman
Thashika Pillay
Franki Harrogate
Jess Woolford
Sheelah McLean
Anna Poletti
Bonnie Heilman
Shannon Maguire
Daniel Heath Justice
Tyler Hagan
Ricia Chansky
Jennifer Blair
Katrina Srigley
Sara Mackie
Janice Williamson
Jiemei Li
Meghan Mast
Susan Harty
Martin Ashwood-Smith
Lisa Sloniowski
Cynthia Mellon
Joey Stewart
Peter Fokes
Carleen Elliott
Julia Emberley
Erin Julian
Brigitte Clarke
Marko Davidovic
Catherine Bates
Bailey Reiter
Larissa Lai
W Mark Giles
Susan Leibik
Crina Bondre Ardelean
PhebeAnn Wolframe
Michelle Muswagon
Tina Zafreen Alam
Jodie Layne
Laura Adamo
Kelly Maccready
Cathy Bhandar
Sara Cassidy
Olivia Williams
January Lim
Claudine Potvin
E. Vegan
Jennifer Eagle
Leila Rai
Naava Smolash
Paula Rein
Susan Burch
Sotaro Shibahara
Stephen Brockwell
Cira Nickel
Ian LeTourneau
Carolyn Smart
Jody Mason
mary daly
Meagan Black
Hazel Millar
George Temple
Jane Eaton Hamilton
Tonya Davidson
Lynda Archer
Monique Woroniak
Yilin Wang
Rob Jackson
Franny Varty
Helen Guri
Alison Clarke
Heather Fitzgerald
David Parent
Laura Andrés Tallardá
Vera Peters
Merissa Daborn
Elizabeth DiEmanuele
Maurice Renay
Heather Bant
Nadine Clark
Punam Khosla
Fauzia Rafiq
penny white
melanie brannagan frederiksen
Sarwar Sukhera
Jenna Mann
Sarah Crover
Jacob Scheier
Shellagh Baugh
Alyssah Hirose
Edward Nixon
Lisa Richter
Helene Vosters
Cathy Petch
Isabel Sobotkiewicz
Fiona Mitchell
Karina Jesson
Lucas Crawford
Jill Yonit Goldberg
Jonathan Meakin
Neale Barnholden
Amanda Reaume
Alen Dominguez
Susan Hroncek
Ayelet Tsabari
Alessandra Santos
Sanchari Sur
martine delvaux
Trish Salah
Jacob Baker-Kretzmar
Catharine Fitton
Tanis MacDonald
Stephanie Reyes
Peter Garden
Charlotte Kiddell
Sinead O'Reilly
Shelby Foote
Marilyse Solis
Nicole Teed
Cal Desmond-Pearson
Julie Ma
Margaret Ferguson
Alexander Torchinsky
Christine Gordon
Raymon Torchinsky
Laurie Adkin
frances worster
Leigh Gilmore
Kaitlin Blanchard
Andrew McEwan
Christy Fong
Amy-Katerini Prodromou
Peter Melville
Kathleen Venema
Amanda Venner
Matthew Leslie
Constance Levitsky
Lizette Gilday
I. Lachance
Peggy McCann
Olga Michael
Nikki Reimer
Blair Yoxall
Raoul Fernandes
Lukas Bhandar
Tamara Raine
Shani Fehr
Steph Butler
Halli Villegas
Emily Elliott
Josefina Delgado
Karen Press
Lily Makowski
Rachel Maloney
Renay Maurice
Matthew Bin
Nicole Beauchesne
Sonal Champsee
Corrinne Harol
Claudia Radmore
Vera Peters
Jenna Albert
Renée Jackson-Harper
Ter Nels
Egidija Kazakeviciute
Current signature total: 640
Just click the link to the right to go to the letter on change.org.
Signatures are updated daily on this site. It may take a few hours for your signature to appear here.
This site is maintained by Julie Rak. Please see Context for the Galloway Case for links to other documents connected to the controversy.