The Jason Arday scandal, part deux

[KatiePricesKnickers]

As the book launch is coming, let the discussion continue.

First thread: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5563599-the-jason-arday-scandal?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share
This is lifted from the thread in the education section, which is an interesting summary
https://www.ian-leslie.com/p/the-great-and-unfortunate-story-of?r=8w0woc&triedRedirect=true

Or AIBU with not letting this fade away?

The Rector instigated the suspension

No I do not think the university has legal
grounds for dismissing Cofnas, despite the legal departments attempts to justify the Rector’s actions.

On a similar one (as in about JA) - here
www.mumsnet.com/talk/education/5561878-jason-arday-cambridge-plagiarist?page=21&reply=153975064

I didn't think I'd seen it. I draw the line at referring to physical appearance, so I would have said something.

I confess I did wonder earlier in the thread before his death if he wore eyeliner, apologies. I of course wouldn't have said said post suicide. Don't think I mentioned a shiny face though. If I can find it I'll get it deleted.

That's interesting. Why?

To come to any conclusions about whether the legal grounds for his suspension were sound or not you'd firstly need to be familiar with Ghent's disciplinary regulations.
Are you?

Internal procedures are not the law.

So did I.

Suspension and other disciplinary matters are promulgated through the legal department. The law allows institutions implement their own regulatory codes.
The legal department does also cite Belgian law in support of the suspension, so it seems pretty sound.

Still not sure how your rant about the individual who was clearly supported/pressured by the institution to take this action is relevant.

What the letter from the university does show is that he was subject to sustained harassment by students. It has also been found that the unrest and complaints mentioned in the letter were coordinated and encouraged by the Rector himself over several months.

You are not sure why the Rector is relevant when he coordinated the unrest that the letter uses as an excuse to suspend Cofnas? Or why the Rector speaking in favour of eugenics is relevant when saying Cofnas’ work is about some humans being better than others?

You do understand that the Rector is basically the Chief Executive of the university? Not just ‘an individual’?

JA toughed it out, used the police and very expensive legal firms to shut down inquiries into the plagiarism of his thesis, but 20 minutes (allegedly) after Cambridge informed him they were launching an investigation he resigned. Nothing to see here? I don’t think so.

Yes he did come across as charming, gentle and kind but that means nothing - so did Ted Bundy and, no I’m not saying he was a serial killer or even that he was in any way evil but it has no bearing on whether he was qualified for his position or whether or not he was a pathological liar or fantasist.

As Kathleen Stock pointed out, his written work was in direct contrast to his pleasant, somewhat overly flattering persona. He was an advocate of CRT and anti white and hard line too.

You still haven't said why you think his suspension is not legal.

subject to sustained harassment by students
Where does the letter show that?

It has also been found that the unrest and complaints mentioned in the letter were coordinated and encouraged by the Rector
How has it been found?
The Rector didn't need to coordinate or encourage any protests seeing as the controversy happened as soon as it was known that Cofnas had been appointed because his views are despised by thousands of people.
In fact, the Rector said 'dissenting views (i.e. Cofnas's) and debate must take place at a university'. The Rector also said the University was listening to the concerns - as they should, in a collegial organisation where racism is against the regulations.

Is it the anti-trans thing or have you always been this rational?

The Rector didn't coordinate the unrest.
There are far more grounds for suspension outlined than unrest.

Please stop your goady crap.

The email the Rector wrote drumming up complaints has been widely circulated.

Ha! If they can work in a reference to Kathleen Stock so much the better

Well I’ve been tempted to crack a joke about how Cofnas and others claim to be part of the master race while looking anything but.

Remembering the shiny thing just struck me how out of hand pile-ons/ group psychology can get. Mean girlness needs to stop in nursery school

Affirmative action is illegal in UK isn't it?

I think Arday was up for a bit of lying to advance himself, and Cambridge was complicit because it suited them.

The only party behaving with integrity was the press! And they are getting it in the neck by people on all sides who find the scrutiny of a free press inconvenient. It’s chilling.

We mustn’t let Jason Arday’s death put feelings before facts

https://www.thetimes.com/article/da19e122-c1b6-4ca2-b429-3397d161d2da?shareToken=9659ab9d591598fe9f61e0aec379f806

Little bit tasteless to say Cofnas claim(s) to be part of the master race while looking anything but, given that he's a Jew. But anti-Semitism is popular these days, especially amongst those who identify as anti-racist and progressive.

There seems to be quite a few unfamiliar with the extent of Cofnas' research, yet that hasn't stopped them concluding he is racist.

You're pulling up other people referring to looks yet you've just made an anti-semitic statement about Cofnas. How did I miss this first time around.

Is IQ used for university admission in the UK?

Yes.

If Cambridge considered Arday's background when appointing him, it was so as to have an exciiing backstory, not because they were reqiuire ti fulfil some sort of quota. James Cleverly suggested that Cambridge 'needed a Wunderkind'. While Cleverly doesn't always live up to his name, I think he may have been right here.