A former University of Cambridge professor, Jason Arday, was found dead in London on Friday, just days after resigning over questions surrounding his career. Arday, a sociologist, was celebrated as the youngest ever Black professor at Cambridge until last month, when allegations of plagiarism in his academic work and questions surrounding claims about his athletic and fundraising accomplishments began to swirl in the media.
Investigation and Resignation
The university’s Vice-Chancellor Deborah Prentice said in a statement that the university was “desperately saddened to hear this tragic news.” Arday defended himself when he resigned in early August, saying his decision to step down “should not be interpreted as a loss of faith in scholarship.”
The university had initially stood by Arday when questions about his qualifications were raised publicly, but later opened an investigation into “new information” about his academic qualifications. Durham and Glasgow Universities were also investigating the circumstances surrounding Arday’s academic posts there.
News of his death sent shockwaves online, with many criticizing some of the coverage that led to and followed his resignation. The Good Law Project, a campaign group that had supported Arday, said his death was “a tragedy for him and those who loved him.”
Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.
