Jason Arday, Cambridge Plagiarist, thread two

[Angeruish]

We are nearing our 1000-post limit on the original thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/education/5561878-jason-arday-cambridge-plagiarist?reply=153910946

I have now removed the question mark after "plagiarist".

I can't believe the sequel will be as good as the original, but you never know...

Arrogance. There is going to be lot of mutual are covering to shut this down. It will all be Jason's fault and the result of a genius imposter rather than a systemic desire to put DEI above academic rigour.

That's woeful. They have been so shallow and cynical throughout this sorry episode

sorry - where was this published?

Is it strange that absolutely nobody else is commenting on him and his claims pre-cambridge?

Does anyone have a share token for this Times article?

I don’t know why my link isn’t showing! It’s the one saying an investigation into his research reveals numerous flaws.

There's a more serious aspect. Students who wanted to change their supervisor because of his incompetence were accused of racism. Did that go into their records and possibly limit their employment chances? A journalist from the TE was threatened by the police and Carter-Ruck the law firm for emailing a few questions to JA.

The bottom line is, this is such a big issue because of how it's being approached. If
JA had not courted media so much, he wouldn't have been so noticeable. If he hadn't made such outlandish claims, they wouldn't have gained attention (an example being that he had hundreds of thousands of supportive emails regarding his appointment at Cambridge, when King Charles only got 30,000 supportive letters/cards, etc., when he had cancer). If he simply held his hands up and said 'I got a bit carried away', instead of saying doubters were racist, it would be old news now.

I saw the Guardian headline in passing. It's not a source I use, but you will be able to find it.

JA and Cambridge courted publicity - but yes,

I don't see it - this is the latest article they have on the investigation - https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/aug/07/cambridge-academics-reject-universitys-attempt-to-end-row-over-jason-arday

Yes a former classmate said he never stopped talking!

That’s mad. Because I really don’t lie/ fib whatever you want to call. I have met many liars but most people really don’t.

I would say lies like oh yes that haircut is great or some kind of white lie. Most people would.

But random pointless lies- no of course not.

And that’s not because I am perfect, pious, or whatever. Honestly I am fucking train wreck. But why are you lying? What are you gaining from that? Life is way funnier than fiction.

I also hate the implication that everyone fibs and lies. The broader culture where leaders like Johnson and Trump have such a weak relationship with the truth doesn't help but it's a pretty basic value.

Evidently ‘formerly’ non verbal, or ‘once’ non verbal, then.

I didn't know about Roland Fryer. I've just had this link. He was a black economist who investigated police encounters by ethnicity that contradicted the main message of BLM. He was pilloried by university authorities to say the least.

https://nitter.net/MsMelChen/status/2085519219202965693#m

My brother began uni at 17 and graduated at 21 ( 4 year Scottish Honours degree) in Maths and Physics. He is a clever.

I'm AuDHD and am pissed off with comments implying that his lies are due to his autism. Most autistic people are truthful to a fault, which causes problems in itself. Of course I can tell little fibs, but constant massive whoppers? I would find it impossible and far too stressful. I'm constantly getting into trouble for blurting (truthful) things out that others want to keep quiet 🙊. I'm blunt and to the point, or sometimes just plain rude in other people's eyes. My face gives everything away. I know if you've met 1 autistic person, you've met one autistic person, but most of my ND friends are the same as me, annoyingly truthful.

My child (late teens) is autistic and bluntly honest, finds even little fibs upsetting as he's pretty literal-minded. A strong commitment to the straight truth is a very very typical autistic characteristic.

I'm very disappointed by their behaviour.

Appalling.

Really? I looked at the original ad and thgt he didn’t meet any of the required spec. The 1st “essential” requirement was: “An outstanding research record of international stature in
Sociology of Education.”

How on any possibly reading of his publications could he be deemed to have an outstanding research record? (Even ignoring the plagiarism and the content drivel, he’d hardly researched or published anything at all.)

Either he made something more up, or the panel decided this “essential” requirement was no longer essential.

How many people didn’t even bother to apply because they thgt they didn’t yet meet this essential requirement?

If Cambridge does get someone independent to review the hiring process, it’s certainly going to be interesting.

I agree the idea that everyone lies on their CV or to get jobs really pisses me off because it's just not true. I think the people who do it convince themselves everyone does, but we really don't. I've never lied to an employer or potential employer, and I don't think I'm particularly unusual in that.

I currently have a mentee at work who lies about his achievements all the time and is also being promoted at a rate of knots because management believe everything he says. It's been interesting watching all this unfold as I feel like I'm living it (at a much lower scale) at my own work. It never occurred to management to check in with me if he was actually any good at his job before promoting him above me.

ah, I didn’t realise how much progress he had made. That’s a success story.

The HoD (Cremin) said he was 'the best in the world' in the work he did, so surely that communicated that they had deemed him outstanding, even if he really wasn't. Pretty embarrassing for the University. They've said their investigation is 'following new information about Professor Arday’s academic qualifications and honorary appointments' but that still doesn't really explain.

Absolutely. I see it as a core value and if someone lies thats it. Your cards marked full stop. Forever. Because it’s a reflection of your values, your confidence, your ethics, and its a disrespect - that you thought I was stupid enough that I wouldn’t know. I would never trust or work with that person (I work for myself so can make that choice most of the time).

Interesting that I learned not long ago that some cultures dont see lying like that. Like Russia - apparently for them lying when everyone knows your lying is a symbol of power and status - like a joke - like haha, I just say this lie because your beneath me and you wouldnt dare challenge me. And that the social climbers will flock around them.

It is super bizarre. So maybe it’s learned not innate but still Arday is British and Cambridge is a British university. And as @keepincool pointed out - hes supposed to be Autistic - and I agree literal bluntness is one of the top traits