Jason Arday’s death is institutional murder

Lord Chris Smith, Cambridge University's chancellor, has spoken out against the "racist feeding frenzy" surrounding Jason Arday, the professor who passed away after resigning amid a plagiarism controversy. Arday, who became the university's youngest black professor in 2023, had faced weeks of media scrutiny over plagiarism allegations and questions about his accomplishments.

Despite denying the allegations, Arday's death has sparked a petition with over 90,000 signatures calling for an inquiry into the media coverage of his case. Lord Smith emphasized that academic integrity can be maintained while questioning the treatment of Arday, expressing his belief that it is possible to uphold both principles simultaneously.

The vigil organized by Stand Up To Racism in Trafalgar Square saw thousands of people gather to mourn Arday, with Labour MP Diane Abbott highlighting the vicious and bitter media campaign against him. Over 90,000 people, including Abbott and Jameela Jamil, signed the petition seeking an inquiry into the media coverage of Arday's case.

Cambridge University initially confirmed that the plagiarism allegations had been investigated by Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) and the journals in question, which found no evidence of plagiarism. However, Cambridge announced an independent investigation into Arday's appointment following the controversy. Arday, 41, was found dead in Battersea, London, on Friday after resigning as a Cambridge professor of sociology of education on August 5.

Downing Street declined to comment on whether Prime Minister Andy Burnham was considering an inquiry into Arday's death, stating that it was a time for reflection and adherence to the usual processes like an inquest. Sir James Cleverly, former home secretary and foreign secretary, expressed anger over Arday's situation and criticized the university establishment for failing to conduct adequate due diligence during his appointment.

He believed that Arday was used as "bragging rights" by some universities and that his age and ethnicity were factors that contributed to the harsh scrutiny he faced. Matthew Pennycook, the housing minister, echoed similar sentiments, stating that the events leading up to Arday's death raised questions about duty of care and modern media scrutiny, but urged restraint before making judgments.

The chair of the NHS Confederation, Victor Adebowale, called for a focus on the press's failure to self-regulate in Arday's case, arguing that the warnings about the potential risks to his life were ignored.