Belgian University Suspends Academic Who Accused Late Professor Arday of Plagiarism

Nathan Cofnas, a postdoctoral researcher at Ghent University, has been suspended from his position less than a month after accusing the late Cambridge professor Jason Arday of plagiarism and alleging Arday was hired to advance racial diversity.

Cofnas announced his suspension on social media Thursday, stating he believes the university will terminate his employment. A spokesperson for Ghent University confirmed Cofnas' suspension as a "precautionary measure" pending an investigation into his "recent public statements." The university declined to provide specific details, citing confidentiality.

Plagiarism Allegations

Cofnas' accusations against Arday, who was found dead at his London home in July at age 41, center on Arday's doctoral thesis. Cofnas utilized a plagiarism-detection tool, Copyleaks, on Arday's thesis and reported finding significant similarities to a thesis by Paula Zwozdiak-Myers, a student at Brunel University in 2009. An analysis by Cofnas indicated over 100 passages in Arday's work potentially mirrored or were lifted from Zwozdiak-Myers' thesis.

Cofnas also claimed that Arday's appointment at Cambridge University in February 2023 was "explicitly to advance the cause of racial diversity." Cambridge had announced Arday's hiring, highlighting his work on democratizing higher education and opening doors for disadvantaged students, with Arday stating his goal was to use his position to lead that agenda nationally and globally.

Scrutiny and Departure

Prior to his death, Arday faced other accusations regarding his academic credentials. He allegedly misrepresented his past work, claiming to have held positions at Ohio State University, Glasgow University, and Durham University. While Ohio State and Glasgow reportedly had no record of him as an employee, a spokesperson for Durham University clarified that Arday had an unpaid academic association with the institution after leaving another role there.

Cambridge University initiated an investigation into the claims. Shortly thereafter, Arday resigned from his professorship, citing intense public scrutiny and personal attacks that he stated had taken a profound toll on him and his loved ones. He described the experience as going "far beyond scholarly disagreement."

Ghent University's rector, Petra de Sutter, a former member of the European Parliament, issued a statement following Arday's death, suggesting it should prompt reflection on how individuals are treated, particularly amid public controversy.