Ghent University has suspended a postdoctoral researcher who made plagiarism allegations against the late Professor Jason Arday. The researcher, Nathan Cofnas, stated on social media platform X that the university is investigating him "over discrimination against the deceased Cambridge University professor."
Ghent University confirmed Cofnas's suspension, noting that Professor Arday's death "should prompt reflection" and that the institution "opposes discrimination, hatred and racism."
In a joint statement, Ghent University rector Petra De Sutter and vice-rector Herwig Reynaert emphasized that while the university values academic freedom and open debate, this freedom "is not unlimited" and comes "hand in hand with responsibility." The university is taking unspecified action regarding Cofnas, stating it takes his recent public statements "very seriously."
The university confirmed that a preliminary disciplinary investigation has been launched against the staff member and that, as a precautionary measure, he has been suspended. Ghent University stated it cannot comment further on the specifics of the disciplinary case to safeguard confidentiality.
Professor Arday, who became Cambridge University's youngest Black professor in 2023, resigned from his role earlier this month following scrutiny over plagiarism accusations initially raised by Cofnas. Arday was found dead in Battersea, south London, last week. A vigil for the 41-year-old in Trafalgar Square was attended by over 30,000 people, where speakers criticized the press coverage of Arday and suggested he was a target of a campaign by those who opposed a Black man holding a professorship at Cambridge.