07 November 2024 , 20:04
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An ‘ostracized’ Oxford student took his own life after being ‘shunned’ by his fellow students, an inquest has heard.
Alexander Rogers, 20, died after he fell in the River Thames and suffered a ‘serious head injury’ in January this year.
During an inquest at Oxford Coroner’s Court, the court heard the Corpus Christi College student was reported missing days after returning from his Christmas holidays.
Mr Rogers had a ‘happy and sociable winter break and was looking forward to returning to college’ on January 9th.
The inquest heard that days later, a student, who previously was in a relationship with Mr Rogers, made an allegation that an incident had taken place on January 11, which led to his friends to stop speaking to him, This is Oxfordshire reported.
Four days later Mr Rogers was reported missing. His body was recovered that afternoon by emergency services.
A review into Mr Rogers’ death, led by Dr Dominique Thompson, found the allegation was made without any evidence.
She added a ‘pervasive culture of social ostracization’ which was ‘established and normalised’ led to students being excluded without evidence, the inquest heard.
Dr Thompson told the court she was ‘shocked but not surprised’ after hearing evidence about what had happened from Oxford students as ‘cancel culture’ is rife on social media, society and in schools.
‘It was shocking to hear that students were treating each other in this way, but I was not surprised by this pattern of behaviour,’ she told the inquest.
The university was not aware of this culture before the report is addressing it with some diligence,’ the inquest heard.
A joint spokesperson for the university and college said: ‘Oxford University and Corpus Christi College extend our deepest sympathies to Alexander’s family and everyone in our community who has been saddened by his tragic death.
‘The College commissioned an independent review to identify all learning in this case with the aim of minimising the chance of such a tragic loss happening again.
‘The wellbeing of our students remains our absolute priority and we are committed to maintaining the safety of all those within our university and college community. Our thoughts remain with Alexander’s family and his friends.”
The college added: ‘Alexander was a talented student, well known and liked in the college community and beyond and a vibrant presence in the Junior Common Room, the boat club and the Materials Science cohort.
‘Whilst the loss of any young life is tragic, we have felt Alexander’s death particularly keenly.’
Coroner Nicholas Graham ruled the death of Mr Rogers as suicide.
He said he plans to send a letter to the Department for Education, asking them to consider ‘cancel culture’ and its prevalence in universities.
He added: ‘While what we are dealing with here is in the interest of the public the family additionally has to carry the unique burden of grief, which is a heavy one.
‘From what we have heard Alexander was an extremely able and popular young man and his passing is sad indeed.’
Friends of Mr Rogers remembered him as ‘the epitome of what is good in this world; kind, warm, funny, and an incredible friend to so many’.
A fundraiser set up in his memory has also raised £10,000 for the Papyrus UK Suicide Prevention charity.