Professor Nathan Cofnas has been suspended from his position at Ghent University over the death of Jason Arday following his blog post amplifying plagiarism allegations against the former Cambridge professor. He posted, "I was just suspended by Ghent University. They will almost certainly fire me. The decision was made by rector Petra De Sutter, a former leader of the Green Party."
That post followed the announcement by De Sutter that Cofnas was being investigated by Ghent University over alleged discrimination against former Arday, who is believed to have taken his own life after resigning over a plagiarism investigation sparked, in part, by blog post by Cofnas. In a statement, Ghent University said they take the "matter very seriously" and have "decided to take appropriate action within its powers and the applicable framework."
"The death of Professor Arday should prompt reflection," Ghent University said in a statement. "We hope that lessons will be learnt from what has happened regarding the way we treat one another both within and outside the academic world, particularly when people become the subject of public controversy."
Cofnas had previously been employed by Cambridge before he was terminated over his research on racial differences. In July, Cofnas revived plagiarism accusations against Arday, using a plagiarism detector to dig into his doctoral thesis. Ghent University rector Petra De Sutter announced the investigation.
De Sutter, a trans-identified male and Green Party member, was hailed when he was appointed in 2020 as deputy prime minister in Belgium, the first trans minister in Europe. De Sutter is a doctor and was a professor of gynecology and had previously had to turn down an honorary doctorate after it turned out De Sutter "used fabricated AI quotes in a speech" in the fall of 2025.
In response, De Sutter said, "While this decision was undoubtedly difficult, it is, given the circumstances, the right step." The false quotes included one from Albert Einstein, "dogma is the enemy of progress." De Sutter said "I deeply regret that I fell into this trap. I cannot undo this. This experience provides an important lesson and will further stimulate the debate around AI. Internally, this discussion has now been placed at the top of our agenda."
Arday, too, was accused of using AI to create his written work. There was even speculation that his resignation letter was generated by AI.
De Sutter came under fire in March 2026 for hiring Cofnas in the first place. A petition was launched decrying Cofnas over his "race realism" research. It read Cofnas hiring should be stopped, "Especially taking into consideration Belgium's colonial, blood-drenched history, which was substantiated by pseudoscientific claims, it is our responsibility in this country to uphold the statement 'Never Again' and to remember that ethical codes exist for a reason." De Sutter stood firm by the appointment at that time.
Cofnas spoke to Winston Marshall about "race realism," revealing that much of the reason he was fired from Cambridge was owed to his citing Harvard University's own statistics that showed "if admissions were based only grades and test scores... the undergraduate population would be 0.67%, so slightly less than 0.7% black."
Journalist Jack Grove had previously investigated Arday over alleged plagiarism and following the assemblage of a 63-page report detailing those allegations, contacted Arday for comment. Arday did not respond to Grove and instead contacted the police, saying that his pursuit of the story was "incessant."
Grove wrote that Arday's "solicitors had been in touch with [Times Higher Education] and it was clear that the story could tie the publication up in months of expensive litigation," so the Arday plagiarism story was dropped. It wasn't until Cofnas brought it back up again that the fabrications began to come out and be seriously questioned.
Now that it's all come out about Arday's manufactured CV, plagiarized thesis, and spectacular claims and multiple illnesses, injuries, and running 600 miles in 6 days—though Arday later clarified that was with rests in between—it's Cofnas who is being investigated.
Ghent University's "statement on respect for human dignity and opposition to discrimination," revealed that the school "has received many enquiries following the death of Cambridge professor Jason Arday and the public reactions to it."
"We are aware," the statement reads, "of the questions and concerns surrounding this matter and understand that is has affected many people. We wish to clarify how the university is handling this situation." They say they are shocked by Arday's death and "wish to be clear" about the values upheld at Ghent University.
They stand for "respect for human dignity," they "oppose discrimination, hatred and racism" and "attach greater importance to academic freedom and to open academic debate, even when views are controversial." But they clarify that academic "freedom is not unlimited. It goes hand in hand with responsibility and may be restricted in order to protect the rights of others."
That post followed the announcement by De Sutter that Cofnas was being investigated by Ghent University over alleged discrimination against former Arday, who is believed to have taken his own life after resigning over a plagiarism investigation sparked, in part, by blog post by Cofnas. In a statement, Ghent University said they take the "matter very seriously" and have "decided to take appropriate action within its powers and the applicable framework."
"The death of Professor Arday should prompt reflection," Ghent University said in a statement. "We hope that lessons will be learnt from what has happened regarding the way we treat one another both within and outside the academic world, particularly when people become the subject of public controversy."
Cofnas had previously been employed by Cambridge before he was terminated over his research on racial differences. In July, Cofnas revived plagiarism accusations against Arday, using a plagiarism detector to dig into his doctoral thesis. Ghent University rector Petra De Sutter announced the investigation.
De Sutter, a trans-identified male and Green Party member, was hailed when he was appointed in 2020 as deputy prime minister in Belgium, the first trans minister in Europe. De Sutter is a doctor and was a professor of gynecology and had previously had to turn down an honorary doctorate after it turned out De Sutter "used fabricated AI quotes in a speech" in the fall of 2025.
In response, De Sutter said, "While this decision was undoubtedly difficult, it is, given the circumstances, the right step." The false quotes included one from Albert Einstein, "dogma is the enemy of progress." De Sutter said "I deeply regret that I fell into this trap. I cannot undo this. This experience provides an important lesson and will further stimulate the debate around AI. Internally, this discussion has now been placed at the top of our agenda."
Arday, too, was accused of using AI to create his written work. There was even speculation that his resignation letter was generated by AI.
De Sutter came under fire in March 2026 for hiring Cofnas in the first place. A petition was launched decrying Cofnas over his "race realism" research. It read Cofnas hiring should be stopped, "Especially taking into consideration Belgium's colonial, blood-drenched history, which was substantiated by pseudoscientific claims, it is our responsibility in this country to uphold the statement 'Never Again' and to remember that ethical codes exist for a reason." De Sutter stood firm by the appointment at that time.
Cofnas spoke to Winston Marshall about "race realism," revealing that much of the reason he was fired from Cambridge was owed to his citing Harvard University's own statistics that showed "if admissions were based only grades and test scores... the undergraduate population would be 0.67%, so slightly less than 0.7% black."
Journalist Jack Grove had previously investigated Arday over alleged plagiarism and following the assemblage of a 63-page report detailing those allegations, contacted Arday for comment. Arday did not respond to Grove and instead contacted the police, saying that his pursuit of the story was "incessant."
Grove wrote that Arday's "solicitors had been in touch with [Times Higher Education] and it was clear that the story could tie the publication up in months of expensive litigation," so the Arday plagiarism story was dropped. It wasn't until Cofnas brought it back up again that the fabrications began to come out and be seriously questioned.
Now that it's all come out about Arday's manufactured CV, plagiarized thesis, and spectacular claims and multiple illnesses, injuries, and running 600 miles in 6 days—though Arday later clarified that was with rests in between—it's Cofnas who is being investigated.
Ghent University's "statement on respect for human dignity and opposition to discrimination," revealed that the school "has received many enquiries following the death of Cambridge professor Jason Arday and the public reactions to it."
"We are aware," the statement reads, "of the questions and concerns surrounding this matter and understand that is has affected many people. We wish to clarify how the university is handling this situation." They say they are shocked by Arday's death and "wish to be clear" about the values upheld at Ghent University.
They stand for "respect for human dignity," they "oppose discrimination, hatred and racism" and "attach greater importance to academic freedom and to open academic debate, even when views are controversial." But they clarify that academic "freedom is not unlimited. It goes hand in hand with responsibility and may be restricted in order to protect the rights of others."
