Cambridge abandoned plans for a full inquiry into Jason Arday’s hiring, instead reviewing his welfare and support alongside university recruitment and misconduct policies. The second review will not specifically investigate Arday, The New York Times reported.
Former British prosecutor Nazir Afzal leads the first review, which will assess whether Cambridge adequately supported Arday amid accusations that he plagiarized parts of his doctoral thesis and embellished elements of his personal story. Arday denied intentionally plagiarizing. Afzal said the review concerns Arday’s welfare and care, not the allegations or his academic record; the separate expert panel will examine senior-academic recruitment, research-misconduct handling and support for academics facing intense public scrutiny.
Cambridge had touted Arday as its youngest Black professor ever; he said he could not speak until age 11 or read until age 18. Some professors are circulating a letter calling for greater institutional accountability and scrutiny of how the university promoted his biography, according to a draft obtained by the Times. Arday resigned Aug. 5 amid scrutiny of his work and biography, then was found dead at his south London home nine days later, aged 41. No official cause of death has been released.
