Cambridge academics reject university’s attempt to end row over Jason Arday

The Cambridge" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="2820" data-entity-type="organization">University of Cambridge has announced a review into the way it vets and hires senior academic staff in an effort to fend off external and internal criticism of its appointment of Jason Arday as a professor.But a group of Cambridge academics quickly rejected the university’s response, saying: “We strongly believe that a thorough and transparent investigation into the wider circumstances of this damaging episode is essential.”Arday resigned earlier this week after mounting scepticism over his personal and professional claims, three-and-a-half years after he was acclaimed as Cambridge’s youngest black professor with a life story of educational disadvantage, including being unable to speak until the age of 11.Cambridge sources said that university and college leaders had hoped Arday’s resignation would end the controversy. But internal anger has continued to grow over his appointment process and the threats to the university’s black staff from toxic media commentary.In a statement issued on Friday, Cambridge said: “Jason Arday has resigned from his post at the university with immediate effect. Regardless of this, and for clarification, the university will continue to investigate the circumstances around Jason Arday’s appointment and tenure.“The findings will feed into a review of the process for the appointment of senior academic roles. In addition, and as previously stated, the university’s research policy committee will review the misconduct in research policy.”The Guardian revealed on Thursday that Cambridge academics were demanding the university carry out a thorough investigation.The letter sent on Friday to Prof Deborah Prentice, Cambridge’s vice-chancellor, highlights the “toxic and frequently racist commentary” that has accompanied much of the online and media coverage, adding: “These manifestly false claims have the potential to set back the modest progress Cambridge has made in addressing historical underrepresentation, and to deter any Black academic from applying for or accepting a position at the university in the future.”Prentice became vice-chancellor of Cambridge in July 2023, after Arday’s appointment earlier that year.Prof Deborah Prentice. Photograph: Linda Nylind/The GuardianThe letter states: “We therefore ask that you appoint an independent body comprising senior academics from within and beyond Cambridge to address these issues, with a clear timeline for completing its work and a commitment to share its findings with the university and the public.”The nearly 100 signatories are senior professors and Cambridge academics, including Suchitra Sebastian, a professor of physics, and Mónica Figueroa, a professor of sociology, as well as Timothy Gowers, a past winner of the Field medal for mathematics. Other prominent names include Nicholas Guyatt, a professor of North American history, Mary Laven, a professor of early modern history, Anuj Dawar, a professor of logic, and Clair Wills, the King Edward VII professor of English literature.The signatories want an independent investigation into the circumstances of Arday’s appointment, and any risk assessment made by the university’s management “when crafting a media narrative focusing on his youth, his race, and his transformative potential”.It also wants details of the university’s handling of allegations of academic misconduct against Arday, including whether the university was involved in efforts to deter journalists from reporting on the allegations.The university has denied supporting Arday’s efforts to stop publication of critical coverage in the Times Higher magazine last year, or funding his use of lawyers.The signatories also call for an evaluation of the “enormous damage this episode has done to people of colour within and beyond the Cambridge academic community, and what can be done immediately to reassure them – and the wider public – that anti-racism and academic integrity at Cambridge are both essential and mutually reinforcing.”However, Cambridge’s Jesus College – where Arday was a fellow – has said it will drop its previously announced plans to carry out a parallel “process” to the university’s investigation first revealed on Wednesday evening.A message to staff from Sonita Alleyne, the college’s master, said: “Because Professor Arday’s college fellowship was contingent on his university appointment, his resignation brought his fellowship to an end. The college’s acceptance of his resignation concludes the process announced in last night’s statement.“This is a very difficult time for Professor Arday and his family. As he requested in his resignation letter, we hope that they are now afforded peace and privacy.”One Cambridge academic said the message showed that the university wanted to “draw a line” under the affair in the hope that it would subside.Arday’s resignation on Wednesday followed intense media scrutiny, beginning with accusations of plagiarism and followed by questions over a string of his claims ranging from endurance running and charity fundraising to confrontations with masked assailants.Cambridge initially defended Arday as “the victim of a vile campaign” before announcing that it would conduct an internal investigation of “new information” regarding Arday, who then resigned shortly after.