Professors at Ghent University have formally challenged the academic credentials of Nathan Cofnas, the researcher who accused the late Cambridge professor Jason Arday of plagiarism, alleging that Cofnas has "very limited expertise" for his role and promotes a "far-right agenda". The challenge was lodged with university officials months before Arday's death.
Background of the appointment
Cofnas secured a postdoctoral research position focused on "the future of liberalism" at Belgium's Ghent University in March. Weeks later, the university's department of philosophy and moral sciences submitted a 19-page statement to university officials, arguing that it was "improbable" that Cofnas was the best candidate among 14 applicants for the role.
Jason Arday, a sociology professor at the University of Cambridge, was found dead on 14 August following weeks of intense media scrutiny of his professional and personal achievements, which was triggered by Cofnas's allegations of plagiarism against him. Those allegations have not been formally proven.
Allegations of ideological bias
Allegations that Cofnas was unqualified for his research role and would have a "negative impact" by promoting racial pseudoscience were made to university leaders months before Arday's death, the Guardian understands. Cofnas's online activity promotes pseudoscientific ideas about racial differences between Jews and non-Jews and between Black and white people. In 2023, he wrote on X: "There are obviously personality differences between Jews and non-Jews … On average, Jews are better than gentiles at capitalising on their [general intelligence]."
In a statement sent to the university's rector on 28 May, Ghent's philosophy department said: "We find it very improbable that Nathan Cofnas was the best out of 14 candidates … We observe only very limited expertise regarding the subjects that are central to the project: political philosophy, liberalism and demography. The formulated requirement in the job posting of a 'strong research interest in liberalism' is not borne out by Cofnas' publication record or the rest of his CV."
Official position and staff response
Academics alleged a lack of transparency around Cofnas's appointment, with "a large majority" suspecting he was "an ideological choice … decided in advance". In the statement, approved as the department's "official position" on 27 May, academics said: "Cofnas himself has never conducted research on intelligence, nor is such research envisaged within the project for which he was hired." They added: "The views he disseminates [in blogposts] are not based on his own scientific research … [and] simply not based on sound research."
The statement followed an email sent in March to university leaders and governors, signed by 48 department staff, 73 students, and 367 academics from Ghent and other universities, expressing "astonishment and indignation" at Cofnas's appointment.
University response and suspension
A spokesperson from Ghent University declined to comment on "the specific details of the disciplinary case or the underlying arguments". Last week, the university announced it had suspended Cofnas pending a "preliminary investigation", without specifying whether the suspension was related to his appointment.
In a joint statement confirming the suspension, Ghent's rector, Petra De Sutter, and vice-rector, Herwig Reynaert, said: "We attach great importance to academic freedom and to open academic debate, even when views are controversial. However, that freedom is not unlimited. It goes hand in hand with responsibility and may be restricted in order to protect the rights of others. The university takes the recent public statements made by a postdoctoral researcher at Ghent University regarding this matter very seriously. Ghent University has decided to take appropriate action within its powers and the applicable framework."
In an April 2023 Substack post titled "How to take back academia", Cofnas outlined ways to "remove" academics he described as "wokesters" by "showing that they don't satisfy minimal criteria".
Impact on Arday and aftermath
In response to the plagiarism allegations, Arday admitted "mistakes" but said he had faced unacceptable cruelty. His treatment has been described as a "racist feeding frenzy". A source said: "Jason was the most gentle, generous, encouraging person. He wanted to bring communities into the academic space. He was working constantly for others."
More than £224,000 has been raised for a fund set up by cultural historian Sir Patrick Vernon to support Arday's grieving family. In a statement, they said they were "deeply moved", adding: "The response to this appeal reflects the number of people whose lives were touched by our beloved Jason and the affection, respect and admiration in which he was held."
Responding to the allegations over his appointment, Cofnas said: "My academic qualifications are a matter of public record." He added: "The silliest accusation is that I am 'uninterested in the academic exchange of ideas'. The people who said this are trying to get me fired or even thrown in jail for expressing my ideas."
