Professor Jason Arday - plagiarism etc

Robert Chapman then reflects:

Why did this become a national story

The more important question is not why a thesis might need corrections or the quality of one scholar’s research. Universities deal with such matters regularly after all. The real question is why this particular case became national news for days on end, especially from rightwing outlets. I think the answer clearly lies less in the thesis itself than in what Arday represents. As Penny Rabiger discusses, universities have become central to political arguments about diversity, equity and inclusion, and high-profile Black academics who speak publicly about educational inequality have increasingly become symbolic figures, and targets, in those debates.

Seen in that light, the focus on the thesis makes it possible for those opposed to greater inclusion to suggest that Arday’s success is not genuinely deserved but instead reflects institutional commitments to diversity. Whether or not anyone states that conclusion explicitly, it fits neatly into existing conservative and far right narratives about so-called “woke” universities. That helps explain why what would ordinarily have remained an academic matter instead became national news.

This becomes clear when we again contrast it to the case of Julian Young (who, as far as I am aware, is white). With Young, there was no attempt to scour everything he had ever written or question every public statement he had ever made, to seek to make him look like a liar. He was rightly held to account, explained his errors and made corrections, and then everyone moved on. By contrast, the discussion with Arday has not remained focused on the thesis, or even the rest of his academic work which has now been scoured. Instead, attention instantly expanded to questioning Arday’s charitable fundraising, his personal history and, perhaps most disturbingly, even his medical history and childhood language delay. Notably, taking her cue from Cofnas, who was the first to do this in his original blog, anti-trans campaigner Kathleen Stock has been among those amplifying this more personal line of discrediting.

Personally I strongly disagree with Cofnas’ and Stock’s politics. But whatever one’s views of their wider politics questioning a disabled person’s account of their own medical or developmental history goes well beyond any legitimate discussion of academic standards. At that point, the controversy is no longer simply about plagiarism, but an attempt to undermine the credibility and moral character of a public figure, in highly disturbing ways

MawsRosie

^Is it a mere co-incidence that *no fuss was made on GN made at all about Professor David Latchman, (The Master of Birkbeck, University of London, and a top geneticist at University College London (UCL) in the 2018-2018 scandal. It was in all the papers of course but no one picked on it to specially feature. He was white^
That is a shameful accusation.
I have no idea what scandal you are talking about but perhaps because my DH had died shortly before that I had other preoccupations.
As indeed may others.
To accuse the membership odd GN of racism by omission puts you on very shaky ground. .

That was eight years ago; perhaps many current posters were not on Gransnet then? Or, as MawsRosie says, occupied with their own problems.

Without trawling through all the posts from that time, it would be difficult to know anyway.

I have come across at least three people who fantasised and were believed, two professionally and one socially.

Today, with the rise of AI, this is an increasing problem.

I just came across this article from a fellow academic Robert Chapman titled *Jason Arday Deserves Our Solidarity"*: This is so regardless of any mistakes and despite the need for accountability" ROBERT CHAPMAN AUG 01, 2026- available on line in full. Some excerpts:

………"To be sure, at first glance, the allegations appear serious. The blog that initiated the controversy presents passages from Arday’s PhD thesis, found through plagiarism software, alongside passages from the earlier work of Paula Zwozdiak-Myers. While he cites her work regularly throughout, these passages appear to have been copied verbatim or with only minor alterations, without citation. The (CAFNAS) blog suggests that without this purportedly stolen work, his research would have very little merit—something I will argue is highly misleading. It’s worth noting right off that the blog was written by Nathan Cofnas, whose criticisms of Arday sit within a broader body of work opposing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, not to mention defending race science. That context helps explain why this thesis became the subject of a public campaign rather than simply an issue for the institutions involved. That said, my argument doesn’t depend on dismissing Cofnas’s politics. Even if every allegation were accurate—something I will contest—the more important question is not whether some passages require correction, but why they have become the basis for a sustained campaign extending far beyond the thesis itself".

How serious is it?
"First, even assuming the allegations about his thesis are substantially correct, they do not imply Arday plagiarised significant parts of original findings…"

Chapman later goes on to say:

Extenuating circumstances
The circumstances under which any thesis was written are also important. Arday is not only autistic but has spoken publicly about developing a brain tumour during his PhD while also having to work full time to pay the bills. Shortly after passing his viva, he then suffered a stroke that resulted in substantial memory loss, including of the viva. Working a full time job while completing a PhD, while hard, would not normally be mitigating, but a brain tumour plainly would. Of course, I do not know whether formal mitigating circumstances were submitted. But these are precisely the kinds of issues examiners consider and discuss, whether formally or informally, when assessing whether a thesis should pass (not to mention any subsequent investigation). After all, it is easy to imagine how mistakes might be made under such circumstances. But none of this context is mentioned in the blog or subsequent news reports. Ultimately, a PhD is an examination that candidates either pass or fail. Some theses are more polished, and can be published as books without much editing; others pass despite being much rougher, including because candidates have less support or have faced exceptional personal circumstances. Examiners routinely weigh such factors when deciding whether work has met the required standard. Clearly, Arday’s examiners, who may know things that we don’t, decided that his thesis did meet the standard. To be clear, none of this would simply excuse plagiarism if instances are definitely proven. It does, however, make the suggestion that this is a uniquely shocking case, worthy of a sustained public campaign, extremely difficult to sustain.

Lathyrus3

How interesting Wyllow that you have drawn an unfavourable comparison with the case of allegations of research fraud against the Jewish professor, David Latchman.

I wonder why you felt the comparison was appropriate given that it was not for plagiarism?

Yes an interesting choice given there must be plenty of white plagiarists that could have been cited.

I know .

Oreo - I read your comment to Wyllow3 "You see racism in everything Wyllow3" and then wrote my post.

Agreed LemonJam but there is no racism on this thread.

Just as it's important not to see racism in everything where it doesn't exist it is equally important to be open to the possibility of racism where it potentially exists. Now that would be equal.

How interesting Wyllow that you have drawn an unfavourable comparison with the case of allegations of research fraud against the Jewish professor, David Latchman.

I wonder why you felt the comparison was appropriate given that it was not for plagiarism?

Oreo

Wyllow3

We're just going round in circles. As far as I can see, all have agreed that should Jason Arday be found to be what he is accused of, he should lose his place after a proper investigation, and that the board should replace him on merit. there's almost certainly candidates in his own department or other Russell Group universities who could walk into it: posts are in short supply. Whatever their background.

Its it a mere co-incidence that *no fuss was made on GN made at all about Professor David Latchman, (The Master of Birkbeck, University of London, and a top geneticist at University College London (UCL) in the 2018-2018 scandal. It was in all the papers of course but no one picked on it to specially feature. He was white.

You see racism in everything Wyllow3
Most posters have only responded as they didn’t know about this Cambridge Professor, and would have also responded to the matter you mention now if you or anybody else had mentioned it at the time.Maybe they did as I wasn’t on here in 2018.
The colour of his skin has nothing to do with his fantastic claims, and we’d all be marvelling at those claims if he was white black or anything else.

I hope the claims against Arday are not because he is black and that the claims Cafnas made were found in a reasonable belief to be true. I hope Cafnas did not start his scrutinisation of Arday primarily as a result of his personal anti-woke beliefs.

The colour of someone's skin should have absolutely nothing to do with academic position, investigations or sanctions for academic misconduct I agree Oreo.

At the moment his health history is making headlines because he is facing scrutiny- not because they are proven lies

True.
But when a person reveals themselves to have deliberately
exaggerated /misled/lied /invented “facts”, they no longer impress as reliable sources.

To continue the medical analogy, he may have shot himself in the foot. .

Yes, sure 🙄

Re Jason Arday -
2 things occurred to me
1) is he psychologically unwell and every word he has uttered I’d ‘confabulation’
2) CUI BONO ?
👍☘️

There often is, Oreobut I most certainly don't see it in everything. 🙄

Life is generally too interesting in so many ways, and I am curious in so many directions.

There are doubts cast now on all Arday's assertions as a result of the plagiarism claims. Harry Howard, a Telegraph journalist is entitled to scepticism.

If Arday did not have a brain tumour removed and/or did not suffer a stroke as claimed that for sure will be found out.

If true his health is confidential so its his decision what he chooses to disclose or keep personal and scepticism no doubt will continue if he chooses not to provide detail. If found to be not true he will be found out to be a proven liar and his health claim proven will make news headlines. At the moment his health history is making headlines because he is facing scrutiny- not because they are proven lies.

MawsRosie 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Is it a mere co-incidence that *no fuss was made on GN made at all about Professor David Latchman, (The Master of Birkbeck, University of London, and a top geneticist at University College London (UCL) in the 2018-2018 scandal. It was in all the papers of course but no one picked on it to specially feature. He was white
That is a shameful accusation.
I have no idea what scandal you are talking about but perhaps because my DH had died shortly before that I had other preoccupations.
As indeed may others.
To accuse the membership odd GN of racism by omission puts you on very shaky ground. .

Wyllow3

We're just going round in circles. As far as I can see, all have agreed that should Jason Arday be found to be what he is accused of, he should lose his place after a proper investigation, and that the board should replace him on merit. there's almost certainly candidates in his own department or other Russell Group universities who could walk into it: posts are in short supply. Whatever their background.

Its it a mere co-incidence that *no fuss was made on GN made at all about Professor David Latchman, (The Master of Birkbeck, University of London, and a top geneticist at University College London (UCL) in the 2018-2018 scandal. It was in all the papers of course but no one picked on it to specially feature. He was white.

You see racism in everything Wyllow3
Most posters have only responded as they didn’t know about this Cambridge Professor, and would have also responded to the matter you mention now if you or anybody else had mentioned it at the time.Maybe they did as I wasn’t on here in 2018.
The colour of his skin has nothing to do with his fantastic claims, and we’d all be marvelling at those claims if he was white black or anything else.

Arday was diagnosed with Global Development Delay aged 3, characterised by slow cognitive and physical processing. Also an Autism diagnosis alongside, same age. He was non verbal till age 11 and did not learn to read or write until he was 18 years old. He also has epilepsy, developed a brain tumour during his PHD studies and suffered a stroke after his PHD thesis
So he says, but doubt has already been cast on his assertions, and when a person has been caught out lying repeatedly, it cannot but give pause for thought.
Journalist Harry Howard who also had surgery for a brain tumour has written:
I am the weakling who laid about in bed after my brain tumour diagnosis and the two appointments on the operating table that quickly followed
I particularly remember the searing pain on both sides of my head after the operations (the first was the installation of a tube to release the pressure in my skull, the second a “stealth-guided needle biopsy”)
I recall, too, my brother’s laughter as blood ran down my face as I tried to do my first wee soon after waking from my second op – for which surgeons had installed a mini-scaffold that was clamped to my skull, leaving small wounds.
So, for much longer than two weeks, I was in no fit state to do very much at all. The stitched-up incisions on my head (and another on my abdomen) throbbed intensely, my legs were like jelly and I could not remember anything I read for longer than a few minutes.
It is this transformative teenage experience (I was 17) which has made me, like many others, rather sceptical about the supposed life struggles of the marathon-obsessed Cambridge professor .

I agree that accusations of plagiarism should be investigated appropriately. I also agree any health claims should also be verified. Although it is likely that whilst he was actually a student when he developed his brain tumour and when he had his stroke his university well being services were aware of his hospital stays and treatments at the time.

I also agree neural diversity is no excuse for misconduct.

We're just going round in circles. As far as I can see, all have agreed that should Jason Arday be found to be what he is accused of, he should lose his place after a proper investigation, and that the board should replace him on merit. there's almost certainly candidates in his own department or other Russell Group universities who could walk into it: posts are in short supply. Whatever their background.

Its it a mere co-incidence that *no fuss was made on GN made at all about Professor David Latchman, (The Master of Birkbeck, University of London, and a top geneticist at University College London (UCL) in the 2018-2018 scandal. It was in all the papers of course but no one picked on it to specially feature. He was white.

Exactly.
It matters not whether he is black, white, Asian or any other ethnic background.
The “plagiarism “ claims should be judged entirely objectively and the exaggerated not to say fantastical athletic, intellectual, medical or other suspected fantasies - some of which he has apparently retracted or modified- can be verified without prejudice fear or favour.
Or is it OK to be “economical with the truth” if one belongs to a minority? (Rhetorical question - truth is truth, porky pies are lies)

LemonJam

Professor Jason Arday is still currently employed as the Professor of Sociology of Education at the University of Cambridge. The serious allegations of academic misconduct against him are being scrutinised and investigated. The University of Cambridge states they are taking these matters "extremely seriously”.

The outcome no doubt will be reported when available, in high profile if founded but likely a lower profile if not. If the allegations are founded I would imagine Cambridge University has the appropriate sanctions in place. If some or all claims are founded, and if that results in loss of employment- that would result in his post becoming vacant.

Any previous unsuccessful applicants will be able to apply on merit to a vacant post that may result.

Yes, hopefully somebody who wrote his own thesis and is deserving of a place teaching at Cambridge.

Wyllow3

I mean, look at what Trump claims and the reality!

But Trump is the sine qua non of mendacity

fancythat

LemonJam

Arday was diagnosed with Global Development Delay aged 3, characterised by slow cognitive and physical processing. Also an Autism diagnosis alongside, same age. He was non verbal till age 11 and did not learn to read or write until he was 18 years old. He also has epilepsy, developed a brain tumour during his PHD studies and suffered a stroke after his PHD thesis. So he did well to achieve his early academic qualifications.

Academic rules and appropriate conduct are important however for reasons posted earlier.

Someone somewhere needs to verify everything he says and claims.

I presume people are doing that right now.

I think he has a book coming out.

I presume he may write another one afterwards.
And his life made into a film.

Like The Salt Path couple did?🤔