A number of us have now heard from UBC Creative Writing Department students. We heard that a lot if not all of the students have had their work seriously impacted by the way the Galloway affair was handled by the University — by the initial panic caused by a frightening letter they all received, by the toxic atmosphere created the innuendo and rumours, the lack of information and the silencing, by the counter currents and enmities, by the guilt some felt because they didn’t want harm to anyone, by the pain and fear. The emotional overload has made it very hard for many of them to write.
The students pay for their courses. They pay for services they hope will be provided. For at least a year, they have not been receiving value for their money.
It is strongly suggested that the University, having triggered this situation through mismanagement, should waive a year’s tuition fees for all students in the MFA program in the Creative Writing Department.