Ghent University suspends researcher Nathan Cofnas amid discrimination probe

Nathan Cofnas, a postdoctoral researcher at Ghent University, has been suspended following a controversy involving the late University of Cambridge professor Jason Arday. Cofnas, a self-described “race realist,” had previously accused Arday of plagiarism in a Substack article. These allegations were never proven through a formal investigation, and Arday resigned from Cambridge before his death on August 14.

Ghent University is conducting a preliminary investigation to determine if Cofnas discriminated against Arday or created a hostile environment for students and staff. The university is also examining whether Cofnas’s work is “fundamentally inconsistent with the contractual scope” of his employment. Cofnas has stated on social media that he expects his employment to be terminated.

In response to the suspension, over 700 academics from various institutions, including MIT and UCLA, signed an open letter supporting Cofnas. The signatories expressed concern that the disciplinary proceedings might constitute retaliation for his efforts to publicize academic misconduct, arguing that the ability to scrutinize scholarship is an essential component of academic freedom.