DISPATCHES FROM THE EDUCATION APOCALYPSE: Cambridge University abandons full investigation into hiring of plagiarist professor Jason Arday.
Cambridge University will no longer fully investigate its hiring of Professor Jason Arday. The university had previously said it would investigate the circumstances surrounding the professor’s appointment and his time at Cambridge.
Arday was found dead by apparent suicide last month after facing public scrutiny for allegations concerning plagiarism in portions of his doctoral thesis and other work. Cambridge announced its review would instead look into whether the university had adequately supported Arday amid allegations of plagiarism.
The move is a departure from a promise made by the school’s Vice-Chancellor, Deborah Prentice, who said there would be a “thorough and transparent” investigation into the hiring of Arday. It is now unclear if Cambridge will ever publicly address the vetting process used for Arday to obtain his senior teaching job.
Cambridge has abandoned its plan to investigate the hiring of Jason Arday. It will only investigate whether it offered him enough support. pic.twitter.com/3FPqiKUBcb
— Ian Leslie (@mrianleslie) September 25, 2026
They won’t, or at least not until much more pressure is applied. And thus, nothing will change. Professor Kingsfield and even Dean Wormer left the academy a long time ago: