Professor Jason Arday, the University of Cambridge's youngest Black professor, has faced a series of allegations, including plagiarism and receiving threats, but maintains he is being unfairly targeted. Arday, 41, was cleared of plagiarism claims regarding his 2015 PhD thesis following an investigation by Liverpool John Moores University. Supporters argue he is being treated unfairly due to his race, while critics suggest a cover-up.
Amid the scrutiny, Arday has alleged he has been subjected to physical abuse and intimidation. In an open letter, he claimed to have been spat on, assaulted, threatened with a blade, and that he and his family had received rape and death threats. He also alleged that bullets and bananas were sent to him via the university campus and that a pig's head was sent to his family's home in south London.
Arday told The Guardian that he intercepted the delivery of the pig's head and reported it to the police months later. He stated that an inquiry found a local butcher had sold a pig carcass on the day the package was delivered. However, the Metropolitan police have reportedly denied these claims, stating they are "categorically incorrect" and that no investigation took place. The butcher named by Arday reportedly said officers did not visit them.
Further allegations include Arday being confronted by a balaclava-clad man outside his faculty building on two separate occasions, with the intruder warning him to resign. Arday claims the man threatened him with a knife on the second encounter. The university responded by implementing enhanced security measures, including panic alarms and upgraded CCTV, and screening emails, post, and packages.
Arday's fundraising claims have also come under review. He previously stated in a 2021 TED talk that he aimed to raise £1 million for charity before turning 40 and had raised over £5 million by age 36. By 2024, this figure had risen to £5.5 million, according to a speech he made. Arday initially described the money as being raised through ultra-marathon events, including running 30 marathons in 35 days and completing 300 miles on a treadmill in three days, and 600 miles in six days. He has since acknowledged he was part of a syndicate of around 100 people who contributed to the fundraising efforts over a two-decade period.
His first documented fundraising feat, 30 marathons in 35 days in 2010, reportedly raised £6,285 for the Shooting Star Children's Hospices, with the charity stating he raised just over £10,000 in total. Records show he was photographed completing this challenge. The subsequent treadmill challenge for the homeless charity Shelter, where he aimed to run 300 miles in three days, is less clearly documented, with a Facebook page suggesting it ended in failure and a surviving JustGiving page recording earnings of £380. The 600-mile run from Edinburgh to London, claimed to be completed in six days, has also faced scrutiny, with a university website referencing a 12-day period. Arday explained the longer duration was due to necessary rest days and cumulative wear and tear from previous training.
Ultra-runner Damian Hall commented that while the marathon and 100-mile efforts are possible, the 600 miles in six days would be a remarkable feat, with little evidence available for it.
Regarding the plagiarism allegations, critics highlighted passages in Arday's PhD thesis that they argued were similar to existing works without proper citation. Some also pointed to spelling and grammar errors. Liverpool John Moores University investigated and cleared Arday, ruling that he had received inadequate supervision and that citation issues were a result of "honest and reasonable error." Arday has spoken out against what he describes as "insidious and relentless strategies" to discredit Black academics.
The University of Cambridge stated that it takes allegations of academic misconduct seriously and that investigations are carried out by the institution where the research was undertaken. They confirmed that complaints regarding Arday's thesis and publications were passed to Liverpool John Moores University and relevant journals for investigation.
Support for Professor Arday has come from organizations like The Good Law Project and high-profile individuals, including Green Party leader Zack Polanski and MPs John McDonnell and Sonita Alleyne. A petition signed by supporters asserts that investigations found no evidence of wrongdoing and suggests the allegations may stem from an attempt to undermine influential Black academics.