University officials decided Monday to temporarily close the offices of the Virginia Quarterly Review in light of the ongoing investigation of the journal's management practices, which have been subject to controversy because of allegations that Editor-in-Chief Ted Genoways' behavior contributed to the July 30 suicide of 52-year-old Managing Editor Kevin Morrissey.
A team of University administrators, led by President Teresa A. Sullivan, believed "it was in the best interest of all the staff members to be able to step back and take a much-needed break in the wake of all that has happened," University spokesperson Carol Wood said.
The VQR staff is currently on paid leave and the winter edition has been canceled. The office likely will be closed until the end of the investigation, which Sullivan hoped would be by the end of September.
"A decision may be made to have the staff return before the decision is made, or maybe after; no final date or time has been set yet for their return," Wood said.
The publication has received national media attention during the last month because of the allegations from Morrissey's friends and coworkers that Genoways' bullying helped convince Morrissey to end his life.
Fomer VQR Web Editor Waldo Jaquith, who resigned August 25, wrote on his blog that Kevin Morrissey committed suicide after "a lifetime of grappling with depression combined with recent stresses, [which] proved too much for him." Jaquith announced his resignation on his blog Aug. 20, writing, "Ted Genoways is still the editor of VQR, which means he's still in charge of our work on the issue, and is telling us what to do. I never could have forecast that the university would allow us to remain in this situation. Hence, Wednesday is my last day, finished issue or no."
Morrissey's sister, Maria Morrissey, said she does not blame Genoways for the death of her brother but did tell Genoways to "rethink his management style" during a phone conversation the day of the suicide. Maria Morrissey said she is trying to use her brother's death to bring needed attention to workplace bullying.
Assistant Editor Molly Minturn and Associate Editor Sheila McMillen - who are on paid leave from the journal - joined Jacquith in removing their names from the masthead of the fall edition, which was completed Thursday.
Note: The subhead for an earlier version of this article stated VQR employees were placed on unpaid leave. As the story indicates, the workers are actually on paid leave.
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