Academic who accused Jason Arday of plagiarism suspended by university
Ghent University has suspended researcher Nathan Cofnas following his public criticism and plagiarism accusations against the late Cambridge professor Jason Arday. The university stated that while it supports academic freedom, it does not tolerate discrimination or harassment.
Why it matters
The case highlights the tension between academic freedom and the professional conduct expected of researchers in the face of public controversy.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Maia Davies Nathan Cofnas Nathan Cofnas has been suspended from his post at Ghent University An academic who accused the late Cambridge professor Jason Arday of plagiarism has been suspended from his post at a Belgian university.
Nathan Cofnas, a self-defined "race realist", was among those to question Arday's work and achievements - prompting a weeks-long plagiarism row prior to his death on 14 August.
Cofnas said he was under investigation by Ghent University "for discriminating against Arday".
The university said a staff member had been notified of a "preliminary disciplinary investigation" and suspended as a precaution.
In a statement regarding Arday's death, its rector Petra De Sutter and vice-rector Herwig Reynaert said they took "recent public statements made by a postdoctoral researcher at Ghent University regarding this matter very seriously", and had taken "appropriate action".
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