Professor Jason Arday Found Dead Amid Plagiarism Allegations
Cambridge academic resigned last week; family cites 'sustained abuse' as vigil planned for Monday.
Carla Rooney
Professor Jason Arday was found dead on Friday.
A flag flew at half-mast outside Jesus College, where Professor Arday worked, following his death.
The University of Cambridge announced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Professor Arday's appointment and tenure, following his resignation as professor of sociology of education.
An analysis by The Telegraph showed well over a hundred passages in Professor Arday’s PhD thesis were identical or a close match to that of another student published six years earlier.
Professor Arday had also publicly claimed to have written an academic book that was never published, and to have been a visiting professor at three universities that had no recollection of him.
The Telegraph became the subject of a petition organized by the Left-wing Good Law Project, signed by the heads of three Cambridge colleges, accusing the paper of running a Right-wing smear campaign.
Separately, a Times Higher Education journalist, who put questions to Professor Arday last year, faced a police investigation for harassment and received instructions to cease contact for the sake of Professor Arday's mental health.
Professor Arday's family stated he was subjected to a campaign of sustained abuse for over three years; James Cleverly stated, "Even the most casual observer could see he was a vulnerable fantasist."
Even the most casual observer could see he was a vulnerable fantasist.
The University of Cambridge does not feel it is right to make a decision on its investigation while the professor's family grieves.
Professor Arday's family has requested privacy from the press, stating, "We are in shock to have lost this amazing father, partner, brother, uncle and son."
A fundraiser for Professor Arday's family has raised more than £60,000, with the GoFundMe fundraiser, launched by Windrush campaigner Sir Patrick Vernon on Saturday afternoon, receiving over 1,100 donations.
Stand Up To Racism announced plans for a vigil for Professor Arday to be held at the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square, central London, on Monday at 6pm; Prime Minister Andy Burnham described the professor’s death as a “tragedy.”
Simon & Schuster published Arday's memoir Great and Unfortunate Things in the US this week; emergency services were called to a property where a man was found unresponsive.