Nathan Cofnas, the academic who accused the late Professor Jason Arday of plagiarism, is scheduled to speak at an Oxford University event next month, and protesters are planning to make their opposition known.
Oxford Stand Up to Racism has called a protest for November 17 ahead of Cofnas’ speech at Oxford’s Oriel College. The demonstration marks the latest chapter in the ongoing scrutiny of Nathan Cofnas‘ allegations against Arday, who died in August. The organization released an open letter demanding cancellation of the event titled “An Evening with Nathan Cofnas: Is DEI Undermining Higher Education?” and distributed promotional flyers featuring Cofnas’ crossed-out face.
Cofnas is a philosopher at Ghent University in Belgium and a self-described “race realist” whose work has drawn criticism for suggesting connections between race and intellectual ability. In August, following a plagiarism probe, Ghent University initially suspended him before converting the sanction into a three-month teaching ban, though he retained research privileges.
The Oxford University Reform Society (OURS) is hosting the talk and describes itself as a student-led organization focused on political reform, free discussion, and civic engagement. Cofnas has actively promoted the event on social media, recently sharing a screenshot of a statement from OURS that read in part: “OURS is committed to resisting the performative victimhood of dominant groups seeking to manufacture their own marginalisation to continue to exclude Cofnas from University spaces.”
Oriel College released a statement on October 26 acknowledging the controversy. The college reaffirmed its commitment to “upholding freedom of speech within the law” while also pledging to maintain “an environment that is free from all forms of discrimination and harassment, including racial discrimination.” The statement emphasized that permitting the event does not constitute an endorsement of Cofnas’ views.
The case centers on accusations Cofnas leveled against Arday, a sociologist who became Cambridge University’s youngest Black professor in 2023. Last July, Cofnas published a blog post accusing the then-41-year-old of plagiarizing work and fabricating autobiographical details. The allegations triggered an international scandal and a formal plagiarism investigation. Arday had publicly discussed his autism and dyslexia, recounting that he couldn’t read or write until age 18. He died following the probe; police described his death as unexpected and not suspicious. His memoir “Great and Unfortunate Things” was published posthumously, and he was widely recognized for his advocacy work on diversity and social justice in higher education.
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