The Virginia Quarterly Review has closed its offices and canceled its winter issue following an announcement that the University of Virginia would investigate questions about the journal's management in the wake of the suicide of its managing editor, according to The New York Times.
Another report, by ABC News, said two of the journal's remaining staff members had agreed to take paid leaves. They had warned the university that Kevin Morrissey, the review's managing editor, was suicidal.
Those staff members and Mr. Morrissey had repeatedly complained to university officials about mismanagement and mistreatment by the review's editor, Ted Genoways. Those close to the review have said the university did little to deal with the complaints.
"There will be no winter issue," Carol Wood, a spokeswoman for the University of Virginia, told ABC News. "We felt it was important for all members of VQR to take some much-needed leave while the internal review is under way."
Comments
1. gmd1057 - August 31, 2010 at 03:35 pm
Like any other large organization, a university always seeks to protect itself first. Trying to do what's fair or best just doesn't come close to making the cut.
2. matthewsm - August 31, 2010 at 03:57 pm
And what about Morrisey's documented complaints against Genoways? Do they have no significance whatsoever? The original CHE article was a hallmark of bad journalism, and may have done more harm to Mr. Morrisey's memory than good. In any case, Mr. Morrisey's complaints need to be investigated, even if posthumously.
3. cassadia - August 31, 2010 at 05:21 pm
@matthewsm ... "a hallmark of bad journalism" ...?
I find that a bit extreme.
"... Mr. Morrisey's complaints need to be investigated, even if posthumously."
Certainly true.
That universities do a pretty uniformly wicked and inept job of responding to personnel grievances is the problem in need of solution.
4. rebagg - August 31, 2010 at 05:28 pm
matthesm: If the CHE article was "bad journalism" what errors or distortions did it contain? Every factual detail was confirmed by later reporters. Do you really believe that a subordinate's complaints to higher administrators justify the kind of abuse Morrissey received from Genoways?
gmd1057: UVA's brass and grievance officers were asleep at the switch. But they now seem to be trying to understand and assess responsibility for a catastrophe, a great deal of which seems at this point to be their own.
5. cwinton - September 01, 2010 at 12:13 am
What matthewsm (#2) describes as "a hallmark of bad journalism" I found to have been well reported considering the very evident stonewalling from among those with vested interests in either UVa, VQR, or both. Perhaps matthewsm should let any judgment of journalist quality be left to those who have no stake in what is being reported.
6. 22228715 - September 01, 2010 at 08:21 am
If the previous article had been about employee complaints that were ignored or unaddressed, or "stonewalled", based on reliable and confirmed sources, it would have been legitimate journalism. But the article, beginning with the title, strongly suggested, hinted, and implied through apparent assumptions that an individual was inevitably made to commit suicide by his supervisor and/or his employer. As the latter, it was inappropriate for a journal of this caliber.
7. newsoffice - September 01, 2010 at 08:49 am
I agree with #6's assessment - yet I assume that Morrissey's coworkers believe that in part that is preciseley what happened: an unstable person was helped (not pushed) over the edge by treatment he experienced in the workplace.
If in fact, complaints were made by Morrissey and his co-workers regarding workplace problems and cocnerns were expressed over Morrissey's mental health and nothing was even looked into .... well UVA has a VERY BIG problems now.
Plus Genoway's reputation is now completely destroyed -- justly or unjustly...
8. ehyouadvisor - September 01, 2010 at 09:55 am
Mental health is the underlying issue here. Where does the University of Virginia see it's role in providing treatment or insisting on it's faculty, staff, or students to seek professional help? When and how can they step in without incurring a lawsuit? The civil rights of mental health challenged individuals are protected, albeit sometimes to the detriment of those who would most benefit. In the case of UVA, their administration is learning lessons that all universities will take heed from.