Free Republic

Jason Arday’s memoir will be released in the UK as planned, his publisher has confirmed. Simon & Schuster announced that Great And Unfortunate Things would be published on Thursday, two weeks after the academic was found dead at his home in south London. Mr Arday had resigned as professor of sociology of education at the University of Cambridge on Aug 5 after allegations of plagiarism and questions about elements of his life story emerged. He was the youngest black professor in Cambridge’s history.

In the wake of accused plagiarist and serial fabulist Jason Arday’s death, an influential band of activists within Great Britain’s largest academic union is demanding action—not to change the policies at Cambridge that led the school to hire and defend Arday, but to “shield other black academics from scrutiny from what they view as a racist, right-wing conspiracy,” the investigative journalist Ben Ryan writes for the Free Beacon. An activist caucus within the University and College Union held a virtual organizing meeting Tuesday night to discuss Arday’s death. “The Free Beacon obtained a recording of the raw and emotional gathering...

The University of Cambridge must uphold its academic integrity in the wake of Jason Arday’s death, its chancellor has said. Lord Smith of Finsbury called for the institution to be fearless in interrogating accusations of plagiarism and suggestions of academic misconduct. Writing in The Telegraph, the peer said: “We must uphold the importance of academic integrity. * * * Lord Smith, who served as secretary of state for culture, media and sport under Sir Tony Blair, had previously labelled the coverage of Mr Arday a “racist feeding frenzy” and said it was correct for the institution to defend him against...

A Black and reportedly autistic man touted as the youngest scholar of color to serve as a chair at the University of Cambridge was accused of plagiarism before authorities say he took his own life last week. If that were the only headline following professor Jason Arday’s death at age 41, then it would be tragic enough. However, the feeding frenzy that followed the plagiarism allegations, the way Arday was hounded relentlessly online and in print regarding his credentials and biography, and the way his story became an opportunity for the left and right alike to promote their own beliefs...

Cambridge University is England’s second-best university, but it’s now bottom of the class. As the case of Jason Arday confirms, no one does dumb like the smart people. In 2023, Cambridge made Arday a professor. He became the professorial chair of sociology and education. These fields produce politicized gibberish and call it scientific research.

The University of Cambridge is facing serious questions about its academic standards and push for diversity after its youngest black professor resigned amid allegations of copying other academics' research. Jason Arday's appointment in 2023 was hailed at the time as a progressive moment. Now, Cambridge says it has launched an investigation after "new information" emerged about his academic qualifications and honorary appointments. There are two fundamental questions for the university. Did it fail to adequately check Arday's credentials when appointing him, and did it defend that decision because of an institutional push to position itself as more diverse?