Scholar who accused late black professor Jason Arday of plagiarism suspended

This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.

- Ghent University suspended a postdoctoral researcher following a preliminary disciplinary investigation linked to statements about Jason Arday

- Nathan Cofnas, a self-described 'race realist', had accused the late Cambridge professor of lifting passages from other sources with minimal editing

- Arday, who became Cambridge's youngest black professor in 2023, was found dead in south London after weeks of plagiarism allegations

A Belgian university has suspended a postdoctoral researcher who was among those who publicly accused the late Cambridge professor Jason Arday of academic plagiarism ahead of his death on August 14.

Nathan Cofnas, who describes himself as a "race realist" and argues that genes play a "non-trivial role" in intelligence differences between racial groups, confirmed he was under investigation by Ghent University "for discriminating against Arday." The university said a staff member had been notified of a "preliminary disciplinary investigation" and suspended as a precautionary measure.

Ghent University's response

In a joint statement following Arday's death, Ghent University rector Petra De Sutter and vice-rector Herwig Reynaert said they took "recent public statements made by a postdoctoral researcher at Ghent University regarding this matter very seriously," and had since taken "appropriate action."

The pair said the institution stands for "respect for human dignity and opposes discrimination, hatred and racism," while also affirming a commitment to academic freedom. However, they were clear that such freedom carries limits.

"We attach great importance to academic freedom and to open academic debate, even when views are controversial. However, that freedom is not unlimited. It goes hand in hand with responsibility and may be restricted in order to protect the rights of others," they said.

The rectors added that Arday's death should "prompt reflection" on how people treat one another both inside and outside academia, "particularly when people become the subject of public controversy."

The plagiarism row and Arday's death

Cofnas, who works as a postdoctoral researcher in Ghent University's department of philosophy and moral sciences, had claimed to have run Arday's work through plagiarism detection software.

He alleged that "many passages are lifted with minimal editing, sometimes retaining copy-editing mistakes from the original source." He also highlighted that a retired professor had previously raised concerns about Arday's academic articles, which had led two journals to issue correction notes.

Additional scrutiny fell on Arday's claims that he had completed charitable athletic feats, including running 30 marathons in 35 days, 300 miles in three days, and 600 miles on a treadmill in six days, with him saying the efforts raised more than £5 million for charity. Arday denied all allegations made against him.

What were the circumstances of Arday's death?

Arday, who made history in 2023 as Cambridge's youngest black professor, was found dead in Battersea, south London. He was 41.

He had resigned his professorship in the sociology of education the week before his death, following weeks of intense media coverage surrounding the plagiarism claims.

Cofnas's own professional history has not been without controversy. His position at a Cambridge college was terminated in 2024 following backlash over his assertion that, under a genuine meritocracy, black people would "disappear from almost all high-profile positions outside of sports and entertainment."

Source: TUKO.co.ke

Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.