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An Oxford University student committed suicide after becoming a victim of “cancel culture”, an investigation has found.
Alexander Rogers, a student at Corpus Christi College, died after entering the River Thames in January of this year.
Friends described him as someone who would “fill a room with his laughter and smiles” in tributes after his death.
But today, according to an investigation, the 20-year-old was a victim of “cancel culture” when his peers shunned him following an unreported accusation.
As a result of this, he was “excluded” which led to him taking his own life, a coroner concluded.
The student was described as the “epitome of good in this world” by his friends, who in June ran a marathon in a fundraising effort for a suicide prevention charity.
Oxford student Alexander Rogers, 20, pictured, was described as the “epitome of what is good in this world”.
A review of serious incidents led by Dr Dominique Thompson, an external expert, found a “pervasive culture of social ostracism” that was “normalised”. This, according to the study, led to the exclusion of students accused of irregularities without evidence, Oxford Post Reports.
It was not revealed what the accusation was.
Although the university was not aware of this culture before the report, it has since accepted its recommendations, the court heard.
A joint spokesperson for the university and college said: “The University of Oxford and Corpus Christi College extend our deepest condolences to Alexander’s family and all members of our community who have been saddened by his tragic death.”
He said the university commissioned the review of all learning in this case to minimize the possibility of such a death occurring again.
He stressed that the well-being of his students remains “our absolute priority” and is committed to maintaining the safety of those in the university community.
The university described Mr. Rogers as a “talented student” who was “well-known and well-liked in the university community and beyond.”
Although the university was not aware of the “pervasive culture of social ostracism” before the report, it has since accepted its recommendations, it was heard
He added that while the loss of a young life is tragic, the university has felt his death “particularly deeply.”
Roger’s family said their priority was for the culture of social ostracism to be recognized to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
They requested and were granted a future death prevention report. Coroner Nicholas Graham will now send a letter to the Department for Education inviting it to consider the prevalence of “cancel culture” in higher education.
Mr Graham expressed his condolences to the family, adding: “While what we are dealing with here is in the public interest, the family also has to bear the unique burden of grief, which is very heavy.”
“From what we have heard, Alexander was an extremely capable and popular young man and his passing is truly sad.”
He added that the student “had suffered a serious head injury,” which was the medical cause of death.
The coroner concluded that it was a suicide.
Since the tragic death, in June friends of Mr Roger organizing the Salisbury Plain Marathon set up a JustGiving page which together raised almost £10,000 for the Papyrus UK Suicide Prevention charity.
The post read: ‘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 many.’
