The literary journal Virginia Quarterly Review has canceled its winter issue following the suicide of managing editor Kevin Morrissey.
Carol Wood, a spokeswoman for the University of Virginia, told the New York Times that morale is down. “We thought it might be best for all involved on the staff to take a break and step back and wait for the conclusion of the internal review,” she explained. The journal offices have been closed while the University of Virginia investigates allegations of workplace bullying by Morrissey’s editor, Ted Genoways.
In March 2010, VQR won the National Magazine Award for Digital Media. In 2008, they won another National Magazine Award in the News Reporting category for a long essay about the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai.
Morrissey served as managing editor of the journal. He committed suicide in early August at age 52. A memorial service was held on Friday, August 6th.