Professor Jason Arday has cancelled upcoming events to promote his book amidst a plagiarism row with the University of Cambridge. Arday, who made history in 2023 as Cambridge's youngest Black professor, stepped down last week after the university confirmed it had opened an inquiry into his 'academic qualifications and honorary appointments'.
Book tour cancellations and publication
Just weeks ahead of his upcoming memoir's release, 'Great And Unfortunate Things', he has cancelled an event in Edinburgh and a speech at a conference. The book is due to be published on August 27, but the publisher is facing calls to delay its release as Arday faces increasing scrutiny.
Investigation and allegations
Arday resigned after being placed under investigation over allegations of plagiarism and questions surrounding his academic background. The investigation came after a series of reports alleged that parts of his PhD thesis and other academic work had been plagiarised. Further questions were also raised in the press about Professor Arday's claims that he ran 600 miles in six days and raised £5,500,000 for charity.
Arday's statement
In a letter to colleagues published by the Good Law Project, Prof Arday said the intense public scrutiny had become overwhelming. 'While criticism is an inevitable part of academic life, what I have experienced has gone far beyond scholarly disagreement,' he wrote. 'The relentless accusations, speculation and public commentary have taken a profound toll on me and on those I love.'
Explaining his decision to leave, he added: 'The only way to bring this chapter to an end is to step away. This decision should not be interpreted as a loss of faith in scholarship or in the values that first brought me to Cambridge. Nor should it be mistaken for an acceptance of the narratives that have surrounded me. It is simply the decision of someone who has reached the limits of what any person should reasonably be expected to endure.'
University response
Cambridge said it had launched an investigation after receiving 'new information' relating to Professor Arday. The university also said that separate complaints concerning alleged academic misconduct were also being dealt with under its research misconduct procedures.
