VANCOUVER — An acclaimed Canadian novelist has been suspended from his job as chairman of the creative writing program at the University of British Columbia.
A statement on a UBC website announced Steven Galloway was temporary suspended with pay after "serious allegations" against him.
Galloway is the author of three novels, including "The Confabulist" and "The Cellist of Sarajevo" and was nominated for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award and the Scotiabank Giller Prize.
Dean of UBC Arts Gage Averill says an investigation has not yet begun and no findings have been made of wrongdoing.
Galloway did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment on Wednesday.
Averill declined during an interview to describe the allegations or identify the number of complainants, saying he wants to protect the "integrity of the investigation."
"We will be securing an investigator imminently ..., certainly within the next few days."
"It's my intent to move this forward as quickly as possible. We don't like having these things hanging over a program or the individuals concerned."
PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE 'PROUD' TO WORK WITH ACCLAIMED NOVELIST SUSPENDED FROM UBC
VANCOUVER — Penguin Random House Canada says it's proud to publish Steven Galloway, the acclaimed author who has been suspended from his job as chairman of the creative writing department at the University of British Columbia.
The publisher has issued a statement supporting the "award-winning, best-selling and acclaimed author" of novels including "The Cellist of Sarajevo," "The Confabulist" and "Ascension."
The statement says Galloway is a friend to many at Penguin Random House and the company looks forward to publishing more books with him in the future.
UBC announced on Wednesday that the creative writing chairman had been temporarily suspended with pay after undisclosed "serious allegations" but that an investigation had not yet begun.
The announcement triggered support for Galloway on social media from fellow writers, with author Angie Abdou tweeting that he is smart, funny and kind, and writes good books.
Galloway was scheduled to speak at Trent University in Ontario on Nov. 17, but the university's English Literature Department announced that same day that the event was cancelled.
