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[INTERNATIONAL] · Belgium, United Kingdom, United States · 56 sources

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Ghent University suspends academic Nathan Cofnas over Arday plagiarism claims

Ghent University has suspended American postdoctoral researcher Nathan Cofnas as part of a preliminary disciplinary investigation. The university stated the suspension is a precautionary measure following Cofnas’ public statements regarding the late Jason Arday, a former professor at the University of Cambridge.

Cofnas, a self-described “race realist,” gained widespread attention after publishing allegations on Substack claiming that Arday had committed plagiarism in his 2015 PhD thesis and had fabricated various biographical details. Arday, who was the youngest Black professor at Cambridge, resigned from his position in August 2026 and was subsequently found dead in south London. While Arday’s family and supporters have characterized the scrutiny as a “racist feeding frenzy,” Cofnas maintains he was exposing academic fraud.

Ghent University officials, including Rector Petra De Sutter, emphasized that while the institution values academic freedom, such freedom is not unlimited and must be balanced with the responsibility to protect the rights of others and uphold human dignity. Cofnas has indicated on social media that he believes he will likely face dismissal as the investigation into allegations of discrimination continues.

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Cambridge University · Ghent University · Jason Arday · Nathan Cofnas · Petra De Sutter · University of Cambridge

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