Oriel College urged to cancel student group’s event with Jason Arday accuser
Summary
Oxford campaign groups, academics, alumni and members of the public have urged Oriel College to cancel a student-organised event featuring Nathan Cofnas, who made unproven plagiarism allegations against the late Cambridge professor Jason Arday. Oriel says it must uphold lawful free speech while also protecting students from discrimination and harassment, and says hosting a speaker does not mean the college endorses their views.Key Facts
- The event, titled “An evening with Nathan Cofnas: Is DEI undermining higher education?”, is scheduled for 17 November in Oriel College’s Harris lecture theatre.
- Oxon Universities’ Reform Society, a student group formed to support Reform UK, organised the event.
- An open letter asks Oriel to withdraw its facilities, citing concerns about the impact on ethnic-minority students and the college’s reputation.
- Cofnas made unproven allegations of plagiarism against Jason Arday and questioned aspects of his biographical claims.
- Arday, 41, was found dead in August after resigning from his Cambridge professorship.
- Oriel says it considers student society events under its freedom-of-speech rules and also assesses security and member safety.
- The Reform Society says it is committed to hosting Cofnas and argues that colleges have a legal duty to host events organised by registered student societies.
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