Former University of Cambridge professor Jason Arday has been found dead at an address in south London, according to police. Prof Arday, who recently faced a plagiarism row, was found unresponsive in Battersea at around 3.10pm on Friday.
Police statement and family response
The Met said that officers were called by the London Ambulance Service, where a 41-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. A force spokesperson said that the death was being treated as unexpected, but is not believed to be suspicious. His next-of-kin have been informed and are being supported by officers.
University of Cambridge Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Prentice said she was desperately saddened by Prof Arday's death, adding: "Our heartfelt sympathies go to Jason Arday's family and friends at this incredibly difficult time." Prof Arday's family said they are in shock to have lost this amazing father, partner, brother, uncle and son.
Background of resignation and allegations
Prof Arday resigned as a Cambridge professor of sociology of education last week amid allegations of plagiarism and questions about some of his achievements. The university launched an investigation into Prof Arday's appointment and tenure at Cambridge. The 41-year-old, who became Cambridge's youngest black professor in 2023, denied the claims, while admitting some errors in his work.
The row first erupted when accusations were voiced by Nathan Cofnas, a US researcher whose own role at Cambridge was terminated after he said that, in a true meritocracy, black people would disappear from almost all high-profile positions outside of sports and entertainment. Mr Cofnas claimed that he had put Prof Arday's work through plagiarism detection software and found that many passages are lifted with minimal editing, sometimes retaining copy-editing mistakes from the original source.
Investigation outcomes and public scrutiny
A subsequent investigation by Liverpool John Moores University, which awarded his PhD in 2015, did not uphold the plagiarism charges but said they were probably caused by honest and reasonable error. Further questions were asked in the press about the truth of other claims he made, including saying he ran 600 miles in six days and that he had raised £5.5 million for charity. Prof Arday admitted that the feat had taken 12 days, and that the £5.5 million was not raised alone but instead as part of a syndicate of around 100 others.
Some critics said the treatment of Prof Arday has been motivated by racism, while others maintain that claims of plagiarism were legitimate. Announcing his resignation last week, Prof Arday said the personal cost of the furore had become too great, and had led to an unrelenting level of public scrutiny and personal attack. He added: "While criticism is an inevitable part of academic life, what I have experienced has gone far beyond scholarly disagreement. The relentless accusations, speculation and public commentary have taken a profound toll on me and on those I love."
He said that his resignation should not be mistaken for an acceptance of the narratives that have surrounded him, but that the only way to bring this chapter to an end is to step away. In a statement issued by his publisher Simon & Schuster UK, his family added: "Jason was subjected to a campaign of sustained abuse for the more than three years since he accepted the role of professor at Cambridge University by those who would leave no stone unturned in their quest to undermine him. The campaign of misinformation was too much for Jason, who was a gentle man and who always wanted to see the best in everyone."
