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The university has been accused by the parents of a student who committed suicide of not learning from the tragedy.
Maggie and Bob Abrahart criticized the University of Bristol for its failure to acknowledge the High Court ruling which found them guilty of discriminating against their late daughter, Natasha Abrahart, before her suicide. They called the university’s actions “shameful.”
On Wednesday, Mr. Abrahart expressed his disbelief at the University’s statement. He pointed out that it failed to acknowledge the High Court’s ruling that the University’s discrimination played a role in his daughter’s death. He questioned if the University even cares about the impact of their actions.
To be honest, I have no faith in the University of Bristol’s willingness to take heed of the lessons from Natasha’s passing, despite them being outlined by a High Court judge. It is disgraceful.
Maggie and Bob Abrahart criticized the University of Bristol as ‘shameful’.
The individuals known as Maggie and Bob Abrahart.
A 20-year-old student studying physics, who suffered from chronic anxiety, was discovered deceased in her apartment in April 2018. This was the same day she was scheduled to participate in a group presentation in a 329-seat lecture hall, with an audience of over 40 students.
According to The Independent, Ms Abrahart’s parents from West Bridgford, Nottingham described her as a “wonderful” individual. She was intelligent, skilled in playing the piano and cello, and had a passion for cooking.
In the past, the Bristol County Court was informed that Ms Abrahart had attempted suicide during the winter term and that university staff were aware of her difficulties.
Prior to the laboratory conference, she faced difficulty in completing individual interview-based evaluations. The court was informed that she received a score of eight out of a possible 20 marks in one assessment.
In May of 2022, Judge Alex Ralton determined that the university had violated its obligations under the Equality Act by not providing adequate accommodations for Ms. Abrahart’s severe anxiety, which is recognized as a disability.
Judge Ralton, presiding at the Civil Justice Centre in Bristol, ruled that the university had indirectly discriminated against Ms Abrahart due to her disability and treated her unfairly based on the impact of her disability.
The Independent was informed by Natasha Abrahart’s parents, who are from West Bridgford, Nottingham, that she was a remarkable individual.
The judge ruled against a claim of negligence on the part of the university.
The university was instructed to give Ms Abrahart’s parents a payment of £50,000 as compensation and offered to negotiate a amount for her funeral costs.
Last December, the university filed an appeal in the High Court, contending that the judge’s decision was incorrect in stating that the university had sufficient knowledge or awareness of Ms. Abrahart’s condition to modify the assessments.
The university’s lawyers also stated that the institution had acted in a reasonable manner, considering the significance of upholding academic standards and fairness to other students.
Nevertheless, Mr. Abrahart’s legal team argued against the appeal, stating that the judge’s ruling was just and suggesting alternative options such as written assessments or providing the student with advance questions could have been implemented instead of oral assessments.
On Wednesday, Mr Justice Linden rejected the university’s appeal.
Since the passing of their daughter, the Abraharts have been advocating for fairness, aiming to prevent other students from experiencing a similar tragedy.
The speaker stated that in certain situations, it may be appropriate to confirm the statements of a disabled person and/or seek expert input to make informed choices. However, the words and actions of a disabled person are also considered evidence.
An educational institution may be required to take action if there is a sense of urgency or severity in the individual’s condition. In these cases, a court may deem the evidence sufficient for such action to be necessary.
After the decision was made, Professor Evelyn Welch, who serves as vice chancellor and president of the University of Bristol, expressed her condolences: “The passing of Natasha is a heartbreaking event – I offer my sincere apologies to the Abrahart family for their loss.”
At Bristol, we prioritize the mental health and wellbeing of all our students and strive to continuously improve our services and safeguards to provide support to those who require it. We deeply care for our students and their wellbeing is at the core of our mission.
“We submitted an appeal in order to gain better understanding for the higher education community regarding the implementation of the Equality Act in cases where staff are unaware of a student’s disability or when it has not yet been diagnosed. As we review the decision, we will collaborate with our colleagues in the sector.”
In 2022, Bristol University was recognized for its efforts in improving mental health and wellbeing among staff and students. They received the University Mental Health Charter Award, making them one of the first universities to achieve this recognition. This award acknowledges the dedication and structured approach taken by the university to prioritize mental health.
According to her parents, Natasha Abrahart was a talented individual who excelled in academics and enjoyed playing the piano and cello. She also had a passion for cooking.
Maggie and Bob Abrahart
“We acknowledge that there is always room for improvement, and we are committed to continuing our efforts to ensure the best for all members of our community.”
Ms. Abrahart’s parents restated their accusations against the University for its involvement in their daughter’s death during a statement made outside the County Court in May 2022.
On Wednesday, Mr. Abrahart added to the list, stating, “Today, we also hold the University responsible for making inappropriate public statements in response to the judgement that they have failed to appeal.”
“It was, frankly, beyond belief for the University to mischaracterise a court judgment, that it had unlawfully contributed to the death of one of its students, as merely a finding that ‘the adjustments made by the University … were insufficient’. As if it had engaged in some trivial technical breach. As if our daughter’s death was something to be explained away. As if our pain was an inconvenient distraction from the business, and it is a business, of attracting students and funders. Shame on you!”
Mrs Abrahart is urging the University to take action by carefully studying the judgment and implementing its teachings. She also mentioned that the parents are still awaiting an apology.
Following the loss of their daughter, the Abraharts have been actively advocating for fairness and seeking to prevent similar tragedies from befalling other students. Collaborating with other grieving families, they established the organizations LEARN Network and #ForThe100 with the aim of promoting reform.
On Wednesday, Natasha Abrahart’s parents reiterated the specific areas where they held the University of Bristol responsible.
According to Shannett Thompson, a lawyer at Kingsley Napley who specializes in investigating misconduct at universities, the ruling on Wednesday is a significant development in the ongoing discussion about universities’ responsibility to their students.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), led by Chairwoman Baroness Kishwer Falkner, intervened in this case. She stated that this ruling will serve to clarify universities’ responsibilities under the Equality Act and when the exception of competence standards can be utilized.
We also anticipate that the ruling will empower disabled students, both current and potential, by giving them a clear understanding of what they can expect from their university.
The University of Bristol announced that Professor Welch intends to send a letter to Mr. and Mrs. Abrahart, inviting them to meet with her.
Samaritans can be reached by calling 116 123 or emailing [email protected].
Source: independent.co.uk
