Ministers are set to consider a coroner’s recommendations on ‘cancel culture’ at universities after a third-year Oxford student killed himself when he was ostracised by fellow undergraduates.
Nicholas Graham is writing to the Department for Education over the death of Alexander Rogers, 20, who took his own life when he found himself frozen out by his friends in what appears to be a phenomenon sweeping campuses.
The Oxford coroner is highlighting the findings of a serious incident review which found students could ‘rush to judgment without knowledge of all the facts’ and then ‘shun those accused’.
He said the study, carried out by specialist mental health GP Dominique Thompson following Alexander’s death, found ‘this culture had become established and normalised’ both at Oxford and the education sector more widely.
Mr Graham is asking ministers ‘to reflect on the concerns that have arisen in this case and to take those concerns forward’.
The tragedy unfolded after Alexander went drinking with a group of friends in January.
He later had sex with a friend, who then told other students at Corpus Christi College that she felt uncomfortable about it.
Although she had no intention of reporting the incident formally, ‘her disclosures led to a growing sense of animosity toward Alexander’, Mr Graham said.
Two friends confronted Alexander over the girl’s allegations, telling him he had ‘messed up’ and they ‘needed space from him’.
They said they would check up on him in a couple of weeks.
Alexander seemed distraught after this conversation, said the coroner, and took his own life the following day.
Mr Graham said Dr Thompson’s inquiry revealed ‘a concerning culture of social ostracism’ or ‘cancel culture’ among students, based on allegations of misconduct ‘often without due process or a fair hearing’.
Such ostracism had happened in the past at the same college, he said, though with less tragic consequences. Recording a verdict of suicide last week, Mr Graham described the case as ‘tragic’.
Alexander had left notes to those who ostracised him expressing remorse for his actions and a belief they were unintentional but unforgivable, the coroner said. He also left a note for his family expressing his love and ‘regret’.
Mr Graham noted Corpus Christi College accepted a cancel culture existed, adding: ‘Some staff were aware that some students were quick to judge. However, the College were not formally aware through complaints… of the extent and nature of the culture in existence until Dr Thompson’s report.’
Mr Graham said he had not been able to establish whether that culture, or how staff responded to earlier incidents, had directly contributed to Alexander’s death.
But he added: ‘It is certainly possible that such a culture influenced the actions of Alexander’s peers. It is also possible Alexander felt that, because of this culture, there was no way of getting back into the social group that obviously meant so much to him.’
Oxford University and Corpus Christi College said a working group had been established to implement recommendations made in Dr Thompson’s review.