The former sociology professor at the University of Cambridge, Jason Arday, has been found dead at an address in Battersea, South London. This tragic incident happened barely after his resignation from the university over claims of plagiarism in his thesis and questions about some of his achievements.
Jason Arday had previously denied the claims. Announcing his resignation, he lamented how the scrutiny had great effects on him. “While criticism is an inevitable part of academic life, what I have experienced has gone far beyond scholarly disagreement. The relentless accusations, speculation and public commentary have taken a profound toll on me and on those I love.” While ending his quote, he stressed that his resignation “should not be mistaken for an acceptance of the narratives that have surrounded me”.
While speaking to Times newspaper earlier this month, he classified those noticeable errors in his early academic works as an effect of his autism, as he relied on using “mimicry to make sense of information.” Confident of this, he assured that similar errors will be found in other academic if similar scrutiny is done. Speaking to Times, he said, “we’re talking about academia here. I didn’t murder somebody. I think the cruelty that I’ve experienced and the positioning of me as this kind of liar and fantasist is totally unacceptable”.
Shortly after the plagiarism allegations, Cambridge announced an independent investigation into his appointment. But it affirmed the investigation done by Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) which concludes that Jason had not plagiarised his work.
In a letter to university staff at the time, and as seen by BBC, Prof Prentice said: “I fully understand the concerns being raised across the university and well beyond it, regarding Jason Arday’s appointment and I share them…”
“That investigation, as you say, should be thorough and transparent, and will be carried out independently by senior academics from within and beyond Cambridge.”
The self-defined “race realist” pulled the trigger when he said he found numerous instances of plagiarism in the professor’s work.
Shortly after resigning, the professor was found dead. Cambridge University reacted to the incident as tragic news. Cambridge University vice-chancellor Prof Deborah Prentice said: “We are desperately saddened to hear this tragic news. Our heartfelt sympathies go to Jason Arday’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.”
Education Secretary Lucy Powell said she was “deeply shocked and saddened” to hear about the death and she urged people to “remember there are real people with loved ones involved”.
Arday’s family said in a statement that they were “in shock to have lost this amazing father, partner, brother, uncle and son. The campaign of misinformation was too much for Jason, who was a gentle man and who always wanted to see the best in everyone.”
Shortly after his death, many writers came out to voice out their complaints. Paul Zeleza, on a substack post, simply wrote, “the media killed Arday.” It went on to provide several instances of media assassination. In one, he wrote, “The frenzy echoed earlier racist press campaigns, including the notorious attacks on Benjamin Zephaniah, the renowned Black British writer, poet, actor, and musician when Cambridge considered offering him a fellowship in 1987, a reminder that the British media has long weaponized Black visibility in elite institutions. Arday’s case became a spectacle because it aligned with the ideological interests of those who oppose racial equity.”
The Metropolitan Police voiced that his death was at the being treated as unexpected, but is not believed to be suspicious.
In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said: “At this time his death is being treated as unexpected, but is not believed to be suspicious.” Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy told the programme “the idea that an academic would be dragged through this amount of media scrutiny is unheard of”.
There have been several of these allegations levelled against the media as been an arrow to Jason and his reputation. Dr Arday’s family told of their “shock” following his death and said he had faced a “campaign of misinformation”.
Regardless of the narrative of his personality, Jason will be remembered for his fearless, powerful publications on health-related topics on all platforms. On ResearchGate, he has about 34 publications, and more than a thousand mentions.
Durham University, another of Arday’s former employers, described him as “a kind and warm person, who actively sought to promote opportunities for PhD students”.
Last weekend, Arday cancelled an event promoting his memoir. Publisher Simon & Schuster previously said that the book, Great And Unfortunate Things, would be published in the UK on the 27th of August. It was released in the US earlier this week.
Sky News reported that the book tells the story of his life from being non-verbal until the age of 11 and being unable to read or write until 18, then going through a series of “improbable triumphs and heartbreaking setbacks”, before being appointed professor of sociology of education at Cambridge.
Arday’s appointment as Cambridge’s youngest ever black professor at the age of 37 in 2023 was hailed at the time as a progressive moment.
Cambridge celebrated Arday’s appointment as a young black professor, one of a tiny and visible minority in academia. Only one per cent of professors in UK universities are black, making each appointment hugely significant.
Author
Paul Olayioye
