Ghent University lets plagiarism accuser Nathan Cofnas resume work as Arday memoir lands in UK

Ghent University has permitted Nathan Cofnas — the US academic who levelled plagiarism allegations against the late Cambridge professor Jason Arday — to return to certain duties while a disciplinary inquiry continues. He must work remotely and is prohibited from teaching for the duration of the investigation. Arday, who had denied the plagiarism claims while conceding some errors, was found dead in London aged 41 earlier this month, days after stepping down from Cambridge.

Ghent had initially suspended Cofnas as a 'precautionary measure' when it launched its investigation, which Cofnas claimed was probing possible discrimination against him.

The university confirmed it had spoken with Bill White, the US ambassador to Belgium, about the case, following White's public declaration of interest in it.

Cofnas previously lost his Cambridge fellowship after students raised concerns over blog posts arguing that in a meritocracy 'blacks would disappear from almost all high-profile positions outside of sports and entertainment'.