Jason Arday, professor of sociology at the University of Cambridge, has resigned from his post with immediate effect, following the announcement of a fresh investigation into his academic qualifications and career. Arday, who made history in 2023 as the youngest Black professor at Cambridge, stepped down from his university role and his fellowship at Jesus College.

In a statement posted on the Good Law Project website, Arday described months of "relentless accusations, speculation and public commentary" that had taken a toll on him and his family, leading him to conclude that stepping away was the only way to end the scrutiny. The resignation came hours after the university revealed it had received "new information" about Arday's credentials and honorary appointments, prompting a separate probe from an existing academic misconduct review.

The decision follows a series of media reports alleging plagiarism in Arday's PhD thesis and other research. Liverpool John Moores University, which awarded his doctorate in 2015, investigated the claims but did not uphold them, attributing issues to "honest and reasonable error." Arday has consistently denied any wrongdoing, citing this finding as vindication.

Cambridge University had robustly defended Arday in June, decrying a "vile campaign to undermine his credibility" and insisting plagiarism allegations had been investigated and dismissed. However, on Wednesday, the university did not specify what new information had emerged, while Jesus College separately announced its own inquiry.

Among the accusers is Nathan Cofnas, a US academic and self-described "race realist" who was a Cambridge research affiliate until 2024, when his tenure ended amid racism accusations. Cofnas claims multiple sections of Arday's dissertation were copied from other works. Additionally, Arday's personal claims, including running 30 marathons in 35 days and raising millions for charity, have also been questioned.

In an interview with The Times on Saturday, Arday admitted making academic "mistakes" but insisted he was being wrongly "portrayed to be a liar and a fantasist and an academic fraud." He also alleged that the "campaign to unseat me from my position" was "racially motivated."

The resignation raises questions about the release of Arday's memoir, "Great and Unfortunate Things," which Simon & Schuster planned to publish later this month. Arday framed his resignation as a pause, writing that he needed "time to heal" and that he "will return." He called his professorship at Cambridge "the greatest professional privilege of my life" but said the scrutiny had forced him to "bring this chapter to an end."

Source: www.aljazeera.com