John Montalbano is temporarily stepping down from his duties as Chair of the University of British Columbia’s Board of Governors as the school investigates allegations that a professor was intimidated over a blog post commenting on the resignation of former UBC president Arvind Gupta.
In a statement, the Board said:
The Board of Governors accepted a request from its Chair, John Montalbano, that the Board ask the Vice-Chair, Alice Laberge, to assume the duties of Acting Chair for the duration of the Fact Finding Process agreed to by the University and the Faculty Association.
The statement went on to say Montalbano plans to “fully participate” in an investigation to be conducted by retired B.C. Supreme Court Justice Lynn Smith.
Montalbano will continue as a member of the Board.
Last week, Montalbano vowed to remain Chair after the UBC Faculty Association called for his resignation.
Prof. Jennifer Berdahl has accused Montalbano of trying to muzzle her. She wrote in a blog post that Gupta, who she noted isn’t a tall or physically imposing man, “lost the masculinity contest” among the university’s leaders “as most women and minorities do at institutions dominated by men.”
In a subsequent blog post, she said Montalbano criticized her for “embarrassing” UBC’s governors.
“I have never in my life felt more institutional pressure to be silent,” she wrote, though Montalbano has denied that he issued any kind of gag order.
WATCH: Extended interview with John Montalbano
-With files from Canadian Press
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