His intervention came as more than 80,000 people backed calls for an inquiry into press coverage and a coroner began examining the cause of death…reports Asian Lite News Desk
Cambridge University’s chancellor has criticised the treatment of Professor Jason Arday, saying concerns about academic integrity did not justify what he described as a “racist feeding frenzy”.
Lord Chris Smith spoke publicly following the death of the 41-year-old academic, who was found dead at an address in Battersea, south London, on Friday. Arday had resigned as Cambridge’s professor of sociology of education on 5 August after facing weeks of scrutiny over plagiarism allegations and questions about his academic achievements.
Arday, who became Cambridge’s youngest black professor when appointed in 2023, denied the allegations. Announcing his resignation, he said it should not “be mistaken for an acceptance of the narratives that have surrounded me”. Lord Smith, whose position as chancellor is largely ceremonial, said academic concerns should be properly examined while questioning the nature of the coverage surrounding Arday.
He said: “I do believe it is possible to hold to two principles at the same time: to believe in the importance of academic integrity, and where criticisms of plagiarism arise, about any academic, whoever they are, ensure that they are rigorously investigated. And also to refuse to join in a racist feeding frenzy over a particular academic.”
Cambridge initially said allegations concerning Arday’s thesis and some journal publications had been investigated by Liverpool John Moores University, which awarded him his doctorate in 2015, and by the journals involved. Liverpool John Moores University concluded that Arday had not plagiarised work.
Cambridge announced last week that it would conduct an independent investigation into his appointment. The university’s daily operations are overseen by vice-chancellor Professor Deborah Prentice.
More than 80,000 people, including Diane Abbott and Jameela Jamil, have signed a Good Law Project petition seeking an inquiry into the media coverage. The petition says Arday’s death followed “two weeks of relentless harassment” and claims that “press conduct is getting worse”.
Downing Street declined to say “at this stage” whether Prime Minister Andy Burnham was considering an inquiry. It said this was “a moment for reflection” and that the usual processes, including the coroner’s work, should be allowed to conclude.
London Inner South Coroner’s Court said an investigation into the cause of Arday’s death could take several weeks. The coroner will decide whether an inquest should take place after the investigation and any submissions from his family.
Shadow housing secretary Sir James Cleverly said universities should have carried out stronger checks before appointing Arday to senior academic positions. He told the BBC that Arday had been used as “bragging rights by some universities”, with greater attention paid to his “age and his ethnicity rather than his talent”.
Sir James said much of the coverage was “quite possibly” motivated by racism, although he maintained that questions about plagiarism were legitimate regardless of the motivation behind them. Housing minister Matthew Pennycook declined to judge the conduct of the press but said the events raised questions about duty of care and modern media scrutiny.
