By Chris Williamson-
The Cambridge University Student Union (SU) has accused the University of a “series of failures” following the suicidal deaths of five students in recent weeks.
The allegation by the student union is a direct attack on the competence and integrity of one of Britain’s most elite universities, given its obligation to respond to serious complaints about its student’s well being.
News that one of the affected students voiced concerns to their college over racial abuse from fellow students, days before their death, and accused the college in question of refusing to open an “official investigation” into their complaint, makes uncomfortable reading.
Details of that complain will be necessary for a full understanding of what occurred in that scenario, and the university is yet to address it in full.
When asked by this publication for the full details of the allegation of racism by one of the students who killed himself because an investigation was not opened, the university said that due to respect of the family of the victim, it would not go into those details.
However, the university’s student union has come out fighting hard. In a statement released on Monday, the Student Union(SU) claimed that the input of specific colleges has diluted the University’s Suicide Prevention Plan, made last year, into “a shamefully unambitious ‘Suicide-Safer strategy’’.
The student union has said that whilst it is “wrong to speculate on the circumstances” surrounding the students’ deaths, the “mental health crisis at Cambridge” must be addressed, calling the recent number of deaths “especially troubling”.
The University is holding a review into the five student deaths that occurred between March and June. One of them has been ruled as a suicide, while the four others remain suspected suicides.
The student union claims that “Senior leaders in some colleges, particularly Trinity, pushed back against the idea that the colleges have or should have a responsibility to try to prevent suicide”.
The statement went on to say: “the aim of preventing suicides [was] removed from the [initial] plan, along with a range of active measures the University and colleges would have implemented to prevent suicide.”
They added that the new policy disregards guidance from mental health charities, including the Samaritans and the World Health Organization, and argue it fails to protect students, but instead “protects the colleges from liability”.
Shocked
Professor Graham Virgo, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education), said in a statement: “we are shocked and saddened by the tragic deaths of five students at the University of Cambridge”.
He outlined the steps the University would be taking, saying that alongside the affected Colleges they have set up a rapid “Incident Response Group”. The group has already reviewed the first four deaths in line with national guidance, and the fifth student’s death is being reviewed using the same process.
The University has also provided bereavement support to affected students.
All five deaths occurred between March and June this year – one in March, three in May and one last month. One of the deaths has been confirmed as suicide by a coroner and the remaining four are being treated as suspected suicides.
In a statement, Virgo said: “We are shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic deaths of five students at the University of Cambridge over recent months. Our thoughts are very much with the families and friends of the students who have died.
“I want to reassure you that the university is taking this extremely seriously and is determined to work closely with our partners to help prevent future deaths.”
The university had set up a rapid incident response group, involving the affected colleges, public health experts from the local authority and the NHS, which had reviewed the first four deaths of students, Virgo said. “Following this review, a fifth student died which is now being reviewed using the same process.”
He said “no common cause or clear linkages” were evident from the first four deaths. “The coroner has ruled on one death, which has been confirmed as suicide, and the coroner has not yet begun inquiries into the other four.”
Virgo added: “Nothing is more important to the university and colleges than the safety of our students. We are committed to delivering a comprehensive set of actions that are designed to help keep students safe.
Last week, The Eye Of Media.Com contacted Cambridge University over the findings of its student paper that black pupils were less likely to get first class degrees than white pupils and that state pupils were less likely to get first than their private school counterpart.
That separate investigation is still in its early stages.
For anyone who has been affected by this news there is ample support available:
Members of the general public can call Samaritans for free on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org, or visit samaritans.org.
They can also call Cambridge Nightline (peer-led listening & information) can also be accessed at: https://cambridge.nightline.ac.uk/ or on 01223 744444 from 7pm-7am daily.