LONDON (AP) 鈥� A British sociologist who became famous as the youngest Black professor ever at the University of Cambridge has resigned after the university opened an investigation into 鈥渘ew information鈥� about his academic qualifications.
Professor Jason Arday, who was 37 when he became a Cambridge professor in 2023, announced his decision late Wednesday following weeks of allegations about plagiarism in his academic work and questions surrounding claims about his athletic and fundraising accomplishments.
鈥淲hile criticism is an inevitable part of academic life, what I have experienced has gone far beyond scholarly disagreement,鈥� Arday said in a statement. 鈥淭he relentless accusations, speculation and public commentary have taken a profound toll on me and on those I love.鈥�
The statement was distributed by the Good Law Project, a campaign group that has supported Arday since the criticism spilled into the media last month. An earlier letter circulated by the group and signed by more than two dozen academics and politicians described the plagiarism allegations as a 鈥渟mear campaign鈥� designed to undermine Arday and other Black people who hold 鈥減ositions of influence.鈥�
Arday鈥檚 appointment at Cambridge highlighted his personal story of overcoming dyslexia, developmental delays and autism that he said left him non-verbal until the age of 11 and illiterate until his late teens.
Questions about his qualifications were raised publicly last month by Nathan Cofnas, a one-time Cambridge philosophy researcher who left the university after his critique of diversity, equity and inclusion programs sparked widespread protests.
On July 24, the Times of London published an analysis of Arday鈥檚 2015 Ph.D. thesis highlighting what it said were multiple examples of passages that were 鈥渋dentical or near-identical鈥� to an earlier paper written by another researcher.
The British media also raised questions about Arday鈥檚 claims that he had raised 5.5 million pounds ($7.4 million) for charity through feats such as running 30 marathons in 35 days and 600 miles in six days.
Arday told the Guardian news website that the money was raised with the help of others over a 20-year period. He said non-disclosure agreements prevented him from naming the others.
Cambridge initially stood by Arday, saying that the plagiarism allegations had been investigated by Liverpool John Moores University, which awarded Arday鈥檚 doctorate.
That changed Wednesday when Cambridge opened its inquiry.
鈥淭he University of Cambridge has begun an investigation following new information about Professor Arday鈥檚 qualifications and honorary appointments,鈥� the university said in a statement. 鈥淚n order to ensure a fair process, we will not comment further until this has concluded.鈥�
The Times of London said Cambridge decided to investigate after it presented new evidence that some of Arday鈥檚 research was 鈥渇abricated鈥� and contained 鈥渋mpossible鈥� evidence.
In an interview with the newspaper published last week, Arday denied plagiarism but admitted to some mistakes that he said were partly due to a lack of supervision when he was working on his doctorate.
Arday continued to defend himself in his resignation statement, saying his decision 鈥渟hould not be interpreted as a loss of faith in scholarship.鈥�
鈥淣or should it be mistaken for an acceptance of the narratives that have surrounded me鈥欌�� he said. 鈥淚t is simply the decision of someone who has reached the limits of what any person should reasonably be expected to endure.鈥�
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