Demand for review by Cambridge after the professor's death

In a letter to university chancellor Chris Smith, the academics say the university actively highlighted researcher Jason Arday's skin colour, age, autism and life history as part of the university's "success story".

This, the academics believe, has a direct connection with the "racialized, funkophobic and disproportionate harassment" that the researcher was later subjected to.

Among other things, the prestigious university in the East of England published a long press release in connection with Jason Arday being appointed professor in 2023. Arday's path from illiteracy in his teens to becoming the youngest black professor in the university's history at the age of 37 was highlighted.

In August, Arday was found dead, nine days after he left his post amid an investigation into plagiarism allegations.

Arday's family have said he was then subjected to a long-term campaign of persistent harassment.

Cambridge has launched an independent review of the university's decisions, policies and internal processes in the period before the professor's death.

But the review is not broad and comprehensive enough, say the more than 40 academics active at Cambridge in their letter to the university's chancellor.

The academics believe the university backtracked on the previous promise of a "thorough and transparent" review of the circumstances surrounding Arday's appointment and his time at the university.

The investigation is intended to be divided into two parts. The first, led by a former prosecutor, will deal with the support and protection Arday received before his death.

But the academics also want the circumstances surrounding Arday's appointment as professor, the promotion of him by the university and risk assessments in connection with this to be analysed.

A second part of the investigation is intended to have a broader approach. But it is not yet led by an appointed person, which has raised concerns among academics that the university's own role will not be scrutinized closely enough, The Guardian reports.

Read more:

From fixed star to accused of cheating – the question marks after Jason Arday's death