Author and former University of British Columbia creative writing chair, Steven Galloway, revealed that there were no restrictions on sexual relationships between students and faculty members. He mentioned that he was aware of several similar relationships within the university’s faculty of arts.
The ongoing trial, where the acclaimed author is suing for defamation related to unproven sexual assault accusations, reached its fifth day at the British Columbia Supreme Court. The main defendant’s lawyer, Arden Beddoes, warned Galloway that his cross-examination would not be an easy encounter.
During the proceedings, Galloway discussed a voicemail he left for a woman identified as A.B. in November 2015, expressing remorse, shame, and a commitment to self-improvement. He admitted feeling ashamed for engaging in an extramarital affair with a student but did not anticipate being dismissed for violating the university’s conflict of interest policy.
Galloway informed the court that, to his knowledge, no other faculty members had been terminated for similar behavior, though he acknowledged his wrongdoing in cheating on his spouse, particularly with a student. Beddoes probed Galloway about his continued relationships with students, mentioning his current wife, Katie Wagner, who was no longer a student when they began their relationship.
Testimony revealed that Galloway had made multiple calls to both A.B. and fellow faculty member Keith Maillard in November 2015 following an email indicating A.B.’s feelings of vulnerability. Beddoes suggested that Galloway’s actions were driven by panic, but Galloway clarified that he wanted to personally disclose the affair to Maillard, whom he considered a mentor and father figure.
Galloway’s defamation lawsuit, filed in 2018 against A.B. and others, alleges that his career suffered irreparable damage due to rape and sexual assault allegations, which he denies and were deemed unsubstantiated by a former British Columbia Supreme Court judge. Several initial defendants have settled with Galloway and issued public apologies. A.B., protected by a publication ban, is not testifying due to mental health challenges related to the case.
Recent court proceedings indicated a shift in A.B.’s defense, focusing on her reporting of alleged assaults rather than the assertion of being assaulted. Additionally, Galloway discussed social interactions between staff and students, highlighting their gatherings at an on-campus pub. He defended these interactions, stating that it was a common practice that was not unique or inappropriate.
In response to A.B.’s claim of waking up on his office floor after an alleged assault in 2011, Galloway refuted the allegation, citing that he did not have cable to watch hockey games in his office and that online streaming was not prevalent at the time. He emphasized that he had no recollection of watching any hockey game in his office during that period.