LONDON (AP) — Britain’s prime minister called for reflection on Saturday after a Black professor who faced a storm of plagiarism accusations died suddenly, days after resigning from a prestigious role at the University of Cambridge.Jason Arday, who became Cambridge’s youngest Black professor in 2023, was found dead inside an address in south London on Friday. He resigned last week as professor of sociology of education after coming under intense media scrutiny, with weeks of news headlines alleging plagiarism in his academic work and questions surrounding claims about his athletic and fundraising accomplishments.His death has prompted outcries that the allegations against Arday, 41, were magnified into a cruel public takedown motivated by racism and longstanding hostility to diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, policies at universities and other institutions.Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Arday’s death was “a tragedy on so many levels.”“It’s not a moment for any rushing to judgment. It’s a moment for reflection, I would say, reflecting on how things came to this,” Burnham told reporters.
Arday’s family says he suffered years of abuse and harassmentPolice said the death was being treated as “unexpected” but not suspicious. They said officers were called to an address in south London on Friday afternoon and a 41-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. They did not name Arday, in accordance with police policy.A friend said Arday had told him that he “felt he couldn’t go on” in a voice note earlier Friday.
