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Student suicide prompts 'cancel culture' warning | Student suicide prompts 'cancel culture' warning |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Alexander Rogers was in his third year at the University of Oxford | Alexander Rogers was in his third year at the University of Oxford |
The suicide of a young man "cancelled" by his peers at university has prompted a coroner to write to the government warning about "self-policing" among some students. | The suicide of a young man "cancelled" by his peers at university has prompted a coroner to write to the government warning about "self-policing" among some students. |
Alexander Rogers, 20, was in his third year studying at the University of Oxford's Corpus Christi College when he took his own life in January. | Alexander Rogers, 20, was in his third year studying at the University of Oxford's Corpus Christi College when he took his own life in January. |
Oxfordshire coroner Nicholas Graham said Mr Rogers had been "ostracised" in the preceding days after a woman expressed discomfort about a sexual encounter between the pair. | Oxfordshire coroner Nicholas Graham said Mr Rogers had been "ostracised" in the preceding days after a woman expressed discomfort about a sexual encounter between the pair. |
In a Prevention of Future Deaths Report, external, the coroner urged the Department for Education to take action to stop similar deaths occurring related to the harmful effects of being socially ostracised. | In a Prevention of Future Deaths Report, external, the coroner urged the Department for Education to take action to stop similar deaths occurring related to the harmful effects of being socially ostracised. |
He said Mr Rogers had reported being subjected to "name calling, targeted behaviour and exclusion and rejection following allegations made against him about his conduct". | He said Mr Rogers had reported being subjected to "name calling, targeted behaviour and exclusion and rejection following allegations made against him about his conduct". |
Corpus Christi College commissioned an independent serious incident review following the death. | Corpus Christi College commissioned an independent serious incident review following the death. |
"That review identified evidence of a concerning practice of social ostracism among students, often referred to as a cancel culture," the coroner said. | "That review identified evidence of a concerning practice of social ostracism among students, often referred to as a cancel culture," the coroner said. |
"[The review's] evidence was that this behaviour, where individuals are isolated and excluded from social groups based on allegations or perceptions of wrongdoing, poses a significant risk to student mental health and well-being." | "[The review's] evidence was that this behaviour, where individuals are isolated and excluded from social groups based on allegations or perceptions of wrongdoing, poses a significant risk to student mental health and well-being." |
'Seismic loss' | 'Seismic loss' |
He said students "appear to employ social ostracism as a means of ‘self-policing’ their community, often in response to allegations of serious misconduct". | He said students "appear to employ social ostracism as a means of ‘self-policing’ their community, often in response to allegations of serious misconduct". |
"This occurs in the absence of formal processes and without proper investigation or evidence," Mr Graham said. | "This occurs in the absence of formal processes and without proper investigation or evidence," Mr Graham said. |
Mr Graham added: "I did not find on the balance of probabilities that this culture specifically caused or contributed to Alexander’s death, but it did give rise to a concern that circumstances creating a risk of future deaths could occur." | Mr Graham added: "I did not find on the balance of probabilities that this culture specifically caused or contributed to Alexander’s death, but it did give rise to a concern that circumstances creating a risk of future deaths could occur." |
Mr Rogers' family have been raising money for suicide prevention charity PAPYRUS. | Mr Rogers' family have been raising money for suicide prevention charity PAPYRUS. |
In a tribute on a fundraising page, they said: "The loss of Zander has been seismic. | In a tribute on a fundraising page, they said: "The loss of Zander has been seismic. |
"He was and is the epitome of what is good in this world; kind, warm, funny, and an incredible friend to so many." | "He was and is the epitome of what is good in this world; kind, warm, funny, and an incredible friend to so many." |
The Department for Education has been contacted for comment. | |
Need help? If you have been affected by this story the BBC Action Line web page features a list of organisations which are ready to provide support and advice. | |
Get in touch | Get in touch |
Do you have a story BBC Oxfordshire should cover? | Do you have a story BBC Oxfordshire should cover? |
You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, external, X (Twitter), external, or Instagram, external. | You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, external, X (Twitter), external, or Instagram, external. |