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| Alexander Rogers: Student suicide prompts 'cancel culture' warning | |
| (3 months 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, 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." |
| 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. |
| 'Seismic loss' | 'Seismic loss' |
| 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." |
| A Department for Education spokesperson said: “This is a tragic case and our thoughts are with Alexander’s loved ones. | A Department for Education spokesperson said: “This is a tragic case and our thoughts are with Alexander’s loved ones. |
| “It is essential that students have access to the mental health support they deserve and that universities take all necessary steps to prevent suicides. | “It is essential that students have access to the mental health support they deserve and that universities take all necessary steps to prevent suicides. |
| “We will be working closely with the coroner, the higher education sector and suicide experts, to ensure that lessons from this case inform our ongoing efforts to support student welfare.” | “We will be working closely with the coroner, the higher education sector and suicide experts, to ensure that lessons from this case inform our ongoing efforts to support student welfare.” |
| 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. | 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. |
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