LONDON (AP) 鈥� A sociologist who resigned last week from the University of Cambridge following weeks of public accusations of plagiarism and media scrutiny was found dead Friday.
Jason Arday, who was 37 when he became Cambridge’s youngest Black professor in 2023, with weeks of allegations about plagiarism in his academic work and questions surrounding claims about his athletic and fundraising accomplishments.
The Times and Telegraph newspapers, along with the BBC and Sky News, reported that Arday, 41, was found 鈥渦nresponsive鈥� inside a home in Battersea, south London, on Friday afternoon.
News of his death comes the same week as the release of his memoir, 鈥淕reat and Unfortunate Things,鈥� a highly anticipated work that Simon & Schuster had decided to release despite the doubts about his credibility. In a statement issued through his publisher, Arday’s family said that they were 鈥渋n shock to have lost this amazing father, partner, brother, uncle and son.鈥�
鈥淭he campaign of misinformation was too much for Jason, who was a gentle man and who always wanted to see the best in everyone,鈥� the family said, adding that for three years Arday was 鈥渟ubjected to a campaign of sustained abuse … by those who would leave no stone unturned in their quest to undermine him.鈥�
The Metropolitan Police said only that a 41-year-old man was pronounced dead in Battersea, without naming the man, in accordance with its policy.
鈥淎t this time his death is being treated as unexpected, but is not believed to be suspicious,” the police statement said.
Cambridge Vice-chancellor Deborah Prentice, who earlier announced that the university will investigate the circumstances around Arday’s employment, said she was 鈥渄esperately saddened鈥� by the news.
鈥淥ur heartfelt sympathies go to Jason Arday鈥檚 family and friends at this incredibly difficult time,” she said.
In resigning as professor of sociology of education, Arday wrote in a statement that “the relentless accusations, speculation and public commentary have taken a profound toll on me and on those I love.鈥�
He said his stepping down should not 鈥渂e mistaken for an acceptance of the narratives that have surrounded me.鈥� He has denied plagiarism, but admitted to some mistakes when working on his doctorate.
Supporters, including more than two dozen academics and politicians, had 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.
Cambridge has opened investigation into plagiarism accusations
In his memoir, Arday wrote of himself as born to achieve and born to struggle. He remembered a family 鈥渓egend鈥� that the 1980s hit 鈥淓verybody Wants to Rule the World鈥� was on the radio at the time of his birth. He described how a midwife noted his long fingers and told his mother that it was a sign he was meant for greatness. In his early 20s, he recalled, he was on a relief mission in Brazil when an aid worker placed a hand on his arm and also predicted an extraordinary life.
鈥淏ut I also believe you’re destined for very sad and difficult things as well,鈥� she warned him.
Questions about Arday’s 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.
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.
Dozens of Cambridge academics had signed a letter calling for an independent inquiry into how Arday was appointed. Cambridge initially stood by Arday, saying that the plagiarism allegations had been investigated by Liverpool John Moores University, which awarded Arday鈥檚 doctorate.
The university then changed its stance and said it opened an investigation 鈥渇ollowing new information about Professor Arday鈥檚 qualifications and honorary appointments.鈥�
Prentice, the university’s vice-chancellor, said this week that Cambridge will run a review of its hiring processes. She stressed that 鈥渙ur staff of color are highly valued, for their scholarship, their achievements and the contributions they make to the institution and the wider academic community.鈥�
鈥淭his particular case is an aberration and should not be used to cast aspersions on their work or the legitimacy of their roles at Cambridge,” she said Thursday.
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