Academic who accused Jason Arday of plagiarism suspended by university

What the report says

Ghent University has suspended Nathan Cofnas, a postdoctoral researcher in philosophy and moral sciences, after he became linked to public criticism of the late Cambridge professor Jason Arday’s work. The university said a staff member had been placed under a preliminary disciplinary investigation and suspended as a precaution. Cofnas said he was being investigated for discrimination against Arday, according to the report.

The case follows a weeks-long dispute over plagiarism allegations and questions about Arday’s achievements before his death on 14 August. Arday, who had recently resigned as a professor of sociology of education, was found dead in Battersea, south London. He had been Cambridge’s youngest Black professor in 2023 and denied the plagiarism claims. The report says Cofnas was among those who challenged Arday’s work and made use of plagiarism detection software to support his concerns.

Ghent University’s leadership said it took recent public comments by the researcher seriously and had acted accordingly. It also said the institution supports academic freedom but that such freedom comes with responsibility and can be limited to protect other people’s rights. The university added that Arday’s death should prompt reflection on how people are treated when they become the subject of public controversy.

Background on academic misconduct cases: when plagiarism allegations arise, universities and journals may review the work, issue corrections, or open disciplinary procedures. In this case, the article does not say the allegations against Arday were formally resolved before his death.