Nathan Cofnas, USA News (Oxford, UK): Oxford University students are plotting to cancel a talk planned by an academic who accused Jason Arday of plagiarism. Nathan Cofnas is scheduled to speak to Oriel College about the impact of diversity, equity, and inclusion diktats on higher education.
The American philosopher’s speech is planned for an event hosted by the Reform UK society. However, the Oxford branch of Stand Up to Racism has declared Mr. Cofnas is not welcome on campus. The group has threatened to stage a protest outside Oriel College if the university allows the academic to speak.
In an open letter, Stand Up to Racism claimed Mr. Cofnas came to prominence for his role in a racist witch hunt of Jason Arday, the former Cambridge University professor. Responding to the campaign, Mr. Cofnas told The Telegraph that the group’s description tells everything about their standards.
Lord Young of Acton, the founder and general secretary of the Free Speech Union, stated that Oriel College and Oxford University should treat the demands to no-platform Mr. Cofnas with derision. He added that if someone profoundly disagrees with another’s views, the appropriate response is debate rather than silencing them.
In July, the academic became the first senior figure to accuse Mr. Arday publicly of plagiarism in a Substack post. Mr. Cofnas claimed Mr. Arday’s PhD thesis contained passages lifted with minimal editing. His accusations prompted intense public and media scrutiny.
Mr. Arday resigned over an unrelenting level of public scrutiny just hours after Cambridge launched an investigation into the claims. The former professor denied the plagiarism allegations but accepted he had made some mistakes. Days later, Mr. Arday was found dead at a property in London.
After his death, Ghent University suspended Mr. Cofnas as a postdoctoral researcher pending a preliminary disciplinary investigation, resulting in a three-month teaching ban while research was allowed to continue. Mr. Cofnas claimed the institution was investigating him for discriminating against Arday, whereas the Belgian university stated it opposed discrimination, hatred, and racism.
