Arday accuser handed three-month teaching ban but allowed to keep researching
Ghent University has disciplined academic Nathan Cofnas, who accused Prof Jason Arday of plagiarism, with a three-month teaching ban while letting him continue his research role. The move follows Arday's death and pressure from the US ambassador to Belgium.
Ghent University has imposed a three-month disciplinary measure on American academic Nathan Cofnas, requiring him to work remotely and barring him from teaching, while allowing him to continue research strictly limited to the topics of his original appointment.
Cofnas had been suspended from his postdoctoral research post at the Belgian university earlier this month pending a preliminary investigation opened after the death of Prof Jason Arday, a University of Cambridge sociologist. Arday was found dead on 14 August, weeks after Cofnas publicly accused him of plagiarism and raised doubts about his biographical claims.
The university did not name Cofnas directly but confirmed a staff member had received the disciplinary measure. Cofnas thanked Ghent's rector, Petra De Sutter, on X for "allowing me to stay."
Ambassador's involvement
Bill White, the US ambassador to Belgium who had previously called Cofnas's suspension "truly unacceptable" and urged De Sutter to rescind it, said the university and Cofnas had "amicably reached an agreement" to lift the suspension, allowing him to complete his one-year appointment. Ghent confirmed it had been in contact with White, who provided further context on his public statements.
The university said an inquiry was continuing to determine whether further disciplinary action was warranted.
Background of controversy
Cofnas's position had already drawn criticism before Arday's death. In May, Ghent's philosophy department told university leadership that he had "very limited expertise" for his role studying "the future of liberalism" and alleged he pursued a "far-right agenda." He has also faced accusations of promoting pseudoscientific ideas about racial difference in his writing, while expressing mixed views on Trump and Maga policies, criticising tariffs but supporting some free-speech interventions. Ghent said the ongoing inquiry must proceed calmly and independently, respecting the rights of everyone involved.
