Returning to Oxford University after the Christmas holidays should mark the start of another happy and rewarding term for Alexander Rogers.
In his third year studying material science, strapping 20-year-old former grammar school student not only excels in studies – he has tipped to get a First – but also a talented sportsman.
He was the leader of the boat club at his college, Corpus Christi, rowing in the men’s first eight, as well as being praised as a ‘vibrant presence’ in the junior common room, where he served as treasurer for a year.
But tragically, on January 15 this year – less than a week after returning to Oxford – he killed himself by jumping from Donnington Bridge into the Thames.
He died at the site, about two miles from his college, which was founded in 1517 and has former poet Robert Bridges, novelist Vikram Seth and former foreign secretary David Miliband among its alumni.
Alexander Rogers (pictured), 20, killed himself by jumping from Donnington Bridge into the Thames
Alexander Rogers is a student at Corpus Christi College (pictured) at the University of Oxford
The uproar in the few days that Alexander did at the beginning of the Hilary term, as the spring term is called in Oxford, was in the middle of a new inquest on the death, which ended with the coroner promising to write ‘prevention of future death reports’ for the Department of Education.
In it, he will ask the department to reflect the case’s concerns about an increasingly insidious culture of campus absenteeism at universities across Britain.
So what happened to change Alexander, who will be 21 on June 3, from a popular young man with the world at his feet to a man shunned by his friends and in such a state of terrible despair that he felt the need to kill himself. ?
Nicholas Graham, Area Coroner for Oxfordshire, told the inquest that Alexander had returned to the College on January 9, and two days later he had gone to the pub with friends, including a young woman referred to only as ‘B’. ‘After returning to college, Alexander went to B’s room and they had sex,’ Mr Graham said.
‘The next day, B told some male friends, expressing discomfort about sexual relations. While B did not intend to report the incident officially, his disclosure caused Alexander to feel hatred in his social circle.’
On January 13 there was a ‘physical altercation’ between Alexander and his ex-boyfriend B.
‘Later that evening, B spoke separately to C and E, a close friend of Alexander’s, explaining his feelings about the events of January 11,’ added the coroner.
The next day C and E met Alexander ‘to deal with the allegations’. He told her he was ‘messed up’ and needed space from her, although he promised to ‘check on her in a couple of weeks’. Alexander said he had ‘looked distraught’ afterwards.
On January 15, E found a note from Alexander indicating that he intended to end his life, expressing remorse for his actions and ‘certainly he was not intentional but he cannot be forgiven’. He also left a note for his family expressing ‘love and regret’.
Alexander Rogers (pictured) has been tipped to get a First at Oxford University
As the police began their search, a passerby saw Alexander jump from the bridge.
His body was pulled from the river, and a post-mortem examination revealed that the cause of death was severe head trauma. The coroner recorded a conclusion of suicide.
An inquest held at Oxfordshire Coroner’s Court in Oxford on November 5 heard that a ‘serious incident review’ was commissioned by Corpus Christi and carried out by Dr Dominique Thompson, a mental health specialist.
He defined ‘a culture of social ostracism, always in the element of the student body’.
Described as a form of exclusionary culture, they say it involves ‘exclusion of students from social circles based on allegations of wrongdoing, often without due process or hearing’.
Mr. Graham said: ‘Evidence from Dr. Thompson is that students can rush to judgment without knowledge of all the facts, can shin the accused, and ‘piling-on’ can happen where a group will form a negative view of other individuals. He states that this culture has become… normal.
“The college accepts that such a culture exists and is aware of two cases where complaints were received through official channels in similar circumstances to Alexander’s case.
‘Alexander was ostracized by his peers because of their perception of what happened to B. As a result, he intended … to take his own life.’
Mr Graham said that ‘perhaps Alexander felt that – because of this culture – there was no way for him to return to a social group that was so important to him that he did not belong to’.
Friends of Alexander Rogers (pictured) have run a marathon in memory of suicide charity Papyrus
He added that Dr Thompson’s findings ‘highlight the potentially harmful effects of social ostracism’ and that ‘this culture is not limited to Oxford University – it is a problem for the higher education sector as a whole’.
‘Dr Thompson points out that the college is a microcosm of life for young people at Oxford and other universities.’
Alexander’s friend ran a marathon in his memory for the charity Papyrus.
One said before the inquest: ‘Losing Zander has been seismic. He was a great example to the world – kind, warm, funny, and an amazing friend to so many people.’
Another added: ‘Alex spreads joy and holds the brightest smile in the room.’
Corpus Christi said it is committed to reducing the risk of similar tragedies and will implement Dr Thompson’s recommendations.
For confidential support, contact Samaritans on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org.
