We are profoundly saddened by the tragic loss of Ethan Brown, a final-year B.Sc. Geography student and a valued member of our university community.
Content advisory: suicide
We are profoundly saddened by the tragic loss of Ethan Brown, a final-year B.Sc. Geography student and a valued member of our university community. Our deepest sympathies and thoughts are with Ethan’s family and friends.
We acknowledge the University’s statement and the findings of its internal report, which confirmed a serious error in calculating Ethan’s degree outcome, alongside a failure to refer him to Student Support Services despite disclosed welfare concerns. These were grave shortcomings in the very systems that should protect students.
While the University has stated this was an isolated academic error, the wider shortcomings in communication and access to student support demand urgent and sustained action.
Since Ethan’s death the University has taken steps to review and reform its academic and wellbeing policies, a process in which we have been involved. However, this is not simply a one off fix and the SRC will continue to hold senior leadership to account to ensure revised training, policies, and processes are implemented rigorously and transparently. We will scrutinise their effectiveness so that student welfare is prioritised at every stage of the academic journey.
Our commitment is to work constructively with the University to rebuild trust in these vital support structures, while representing students in demanding the oversight and safeguards needed to prevent a tragedy like this from ever happening again.
This has been deeply upsetting for our community, and we want students to know support is available — both through the University and through the SRC. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you’re struggling; no one should ever feel they’re facing things alone.
If you’ve been affected by this news or need someone to talk to, the following services are here to support you: