The family of Ethan Brown, a college student from the University of Glasgow who took his own life in 2024, is "sickened" to learn that a university error may have been tied to his suicide.
Brown, who was 23-years-old at the time, was majoring in Geography and planning to graduate in the summer of 2024, was reportedly falsely told by the university that he would be unable to graduate on time.
The university “wrongly informed him that he did not have the necessary credits to graduate,” a representative for the college said in a public statement.
An agency looked into the situation and discovered “systemic risks to quality and standards” at the university.
The University of Glasgow has since apologized for the mistake.
“Upon investigation, the University identified the error and commissioned an internal report by a recently retired senior professor into the circumstances; this was shared with Ethan’s family on its completion,” the statement continued.
After a review was conducted, the University informed the Brown family of the error.
“Upon investigation, the University identified the error and commissioned an internal report by a recently retired senior professor into the circumstances; this was shared with Ethan’s family on its completion,” the university stated.
“The Deputy Vice Chancellor and the compiler of the report met with representatives of the family in early February 2025 to talk through the findings and offer a sincere apology as well as our deepest sympathies," the statement continued.
The University has admitted that the mistake was something that should have been caught early on.
“It indicated that this error should have been picked up during the exam board process. A further shortcoming involved communications with Ethan, including the fact that he was not referred to Student Support Services when he disclosed well-being concerns," they said.
Aamer Anwar, an attorney for the Brown family, spoke out regarding the news.
“The University of Glasgow, the family believe, failed Ethan, and believe he took his own life as a result,” he said.
