Jason Arday was selected as a torchbearer for the London 2012 Olympics. Photograph: Joe Giddens/PA View image in fullscreen Jason Arday was selected as a torchbearer for the London 2012 Olympics. Photograph: Joe Giddens/PA Jason Arday Cambridge academics reject university’s attempt to end row over Jason Arday Group calls for ‘thorough and transparent investigation’ of hiring of professor who resigned after his claims came under scrutiny
Prefer the Guardian on Google The 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.
Read more 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.
View image in fullscreen Prof Deborah Prentice. Photograph: Linda Nylind/The Guardian The 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 VI…