Academic who accused Professor Jason Arday of plagiarism suspended by Ghent University
Nathan Cofnas, a postdoctoral researcher at Ghent University, has been suspended following his accusations of plagiarism against the late Cambridge professor Jason Arday. Cofnas, who identifies as a "race realist," had publicly questioned Arday's work and achievements, leading to a plagiarism controversy before Arday's death on August 14. Ghent University confirmed a staff member was under a "preliminary disciplinary investigation" and suspended as a precautionary measure. The university's rector, Petra De Sutter, and vice-rector, Herwig Reynaert, stated they took Cofnas's public statements seriously and had taken "appropriate action," emphasizing the university's stance against discrimination, hatred, and racism, while upholding academic freedom within limits. Cofnas's role at a Cambridge college was terminated in 2024 due to backlash over his views on meritocracy and race. He claimed to have used plagiarism detection software on Arday's work and noted previous concerns raised by a retired professor regarding Arday's academic articles. Arday, who became Cambridge's youngest black professor in 2023, was found dead in Battersea, south London, after resigning from his position. He had denied the plagiarism allegations and questions about his achievements.
