The death of Jason Arday, the former Cambridge University academic who became the youngest Black professor in the institution’s history, has prompted UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham to call for a period of national reflection instead of rushed judgment.
Arday, 41, was found dead at a south London address on Friday after weeks of intense public and media scrutiny over his academic record. Police have described the death as unexpected but not suspicious.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Burnham said the death was a tragedy on so many levels. “It’s not a moment for any rushing to judgment. It’s a moment for reflection, I would say, reflecting on how things came to this,” he said.
The news has sparked anger among some sections of British society who believe media coverage of Arday was fuelled by racism. Activists, journalists and academics have accused Cambridge University of failing in its duty of care to Arday, who resigned from his prestigious post on August 5. Newspapers have also faced criticism, with public figures saying the press gave disproportionate coverage to the scandal and far right figures weaponised the affair.
Deborah Prentice, Cambridge University’s vice chancellor and professor, said in a statement on Saturday that Arday’s death was tragic. “My thoughts and deepest condolences are with Jason’s family and loved ones who, as they said last night, have lost a father, partner, brother, uncle and son,” Prentice said. “My immediate thoughts are also with colleagues and students who worked with Jason in the Faculty of Education, and at Jesus College where he was a Fellow.”
Analysis by media watchdog NewsCord found at least 188 articles about Arday had been published over nine days. The organisation said tens of thousands of complaints about his treatment by the press had been filed with the regulatory body IPSO.
Gareth Dale from Brunel University in west London told Al Jazeera that Arday was clearly suffering from mental illness, and the appropriate response was compassion. Instead, Dale said, Arday was hounded to his grave, and it would hardly be hyperbole to describe it as a lynching. Dale claimed the perpetrators were far right activists and racist media organisations seeking to push back against social gains made by campaigners against racism. He said Arday may have plagiarised, but no more than many a white professor, and the spotlight should be laser focused on why the discrepancy between his case and theirs, and on why the media engaged in a pile on instead of investigating the far right activists who were creating a lynch mob atmosphere.
Arday’s academic record and achievements first came under scrutiny last month, with news outlets accusing him of plagiarising his doctoral thesis and falsifying several achievements. He was also accused of lying about his childhood struggles.
Police have said the death is not being treated as suspicious, while Cambridge University has offered condolences to Arday’s family and colleagues.
