Durham chief accused of calling rugby players morons
DURHAM University investigated a pro-vice-chancellor after he allegedly called rugby players “f---ing morons”, The Sunday Telegraph has learnt.
Jeremy Cook was accused by student rugby players of using “inappropriate language” during a meeting called to address complaints that a first-year student was urinated on at an initiation ceremony, hours after club members were warned not to bully freshers.
Mr Cook, a former Army colonel who is responsible for “student experience”, addressed more than 100 Durham University Rugby Football Club members at the evening meeting in a marquee on the university racecourse at the start of the past academic year.
An investigation into the behaviour of some players towards the first-year student resulted in penalties, including “suspensions from all university representative and college sport activity” for “several individuals”, Durham said.
But Mr Cook found himself subject to an inquiry of his own for the alleged “offence” he caused players when he addressed them over the incident.
A letter to the student conduct office, which lists 102 rugby players as signatories, states it is “our very clear recollection” that Mr Cook used the phrase “f---ing morons”, which was “inappropriate language” and “caused offence”.
The letter from students, written earlier this year, was sent after earlier complaints from players which triggered an investigation by the university found no case for disciplinary action against Mr Cook. He strongly denies swearing at the rugby club members. The pro-vicechancellor said that he was asked to “consider apologising for the strong way” in which he spoke to the students and said he was “happy to do so”.
He said: “During the talk to our students, I spoke passionately but did not swear. I described the behaviour of the students who had led this behaviour and undertaken these dangerous and demeaning actions as a disgrace.”
A Durham University spokesman said: “The investigation was carried out in line with established University procedures. Every student was sent notes from their interview and requested to confirm their accuracy.”