# Is anyone else following this bizarre Jason Arday story out of Cambridge University? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 11, 2026, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-following-this-bizarre-jason-arday-story-out-of-cambridge-university/1032289 "2026-08-11T02:18:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2026, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-following-this-bizarre-jason-arday-story-out-of-cambridge-university/1032289/61 "2026-08-12T21:37:08Z")
> [@Stanislaus](#): > > This last point is terrifyingly close to the right wing critique, because the decisions are made by people who don’t actually believe in the principles of DEI (EDI in the UK, but same thing), but are dealing with the pressures it creates in the most superficial way possible. > > People will take low cost, superficial and ultimately counter-productive approaches to ticking DEI boxes unless carefully watched and held to account is of course a left wing critique of DEI. There was a recent article in the Atlantic about a Black tenure-track professor who suspected he was a DEI hire after he became continually tokenized and pressured to take on DEI roles that he felt had nothing to do with his job. He ultimately left academia altogether. I don’t know if this is a _common_ problem, but assuming he’s telling the truth, that faculty was fuckin’ bonkers. Gift link: [Confessions of a Token Black Professor - The Atlantic](https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/09/elite-academia-leadership-hypocrisy/687969/?gift=G6TjkDnrLDfESKzlG5E0MTRzMryDEm_i0kaSYgNLWXk) He was particularly upset with the anti-union, anti-workers rights position of the school that espoused progressive values. And noted that when Trump started to crack down on DEI in universities, the faculty unanimously voted to halt DEI activities. Clearly they didn’t hold too tightly to those values. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2026, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-following-this-bizarre-jason-arday-story-out-of-cambridge-university/1032289/62 "2026-08-12T23:15:54Z")
Sounds like this professor blew the whistle, and faced retaliation. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2026, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-following-this-bizarre-jason-arday-story-out-of-cambridge-university/1032289/63 "2026-08-14T19:39:46Z")
And the plot takes a lethal turn: > **[Jason Arday dead after being found at home following Cambridge scandal](https://www.the-sun.com/news/16844883/jason-arday-found-dead-cambridge-plagiarism-scandal/)** > > FORMER Cambridge University professor Jason Arday has been found dead at an address in south London just days after accusations of plagiarism. Dr Arday, 41, was discovered “unresponsive” at a prope… ---
**Author:** ![colinfred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colinfred/32/21338_2.png) [@colinfred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colinfred)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2026, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-following-this-bizarre-jason-arday-story-out-of-cambridge-university/1032289/64 "2026-08-14T19:48:07Z")
Jason Arday claims he’s still alive. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2026, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-following-this-bizarre-jason-arday-story-out-of-cambridge-university/1032289/65 "2026-08-14T19:54:33Z")
> [@colinfred](#): > > Arday claims he’s still alive. I assume this is a joke? It’s not a bad one, but I am trying to get the news here. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2026, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-following-this-bizarre-jason-arday-story-out-of-cambridge-university/1032289/66 "2026-08-14T19:56:35Z")
I think it’s a joke: SkyNews is reporting the death. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2026, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-following-this-bizarre-jason-arday-story-out-of-cambridge-university/1032289/67 "2026-08-14T19:57:39Z")
Thanks. How sad. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2026, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-following-this-bizarre-jason-arday-story-out-of-cambridge-university/1032289/68 "2026-08-14T20:02:56Z")
And the BBC > **[Jason Arday: Former Cambridge university professor found dead](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1j1ye6n30no)** > > Jason Arday was found "unresponsive" at an address in Battersea, south London, on Friday afternoon, officials said. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2026, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-following-this-bizarre-jason-arday-story-out-of-cambridge-university/1032289/69 "2026-08-14T20:06:36Z")
> [@](#): > > Analysis of Dr Arday’s PhD thesis reportedly showed 180 passages were a match or near-match for another student. > > Since the allegations were made, Dr Arday has said this was a result of his autism, meaning he absorbs information through mimicry. Nice excuse, except there doesn’t seem to be good evidence that people with autism are any more prone to plagiarism then non-autistics. Stay tuned for abundant finger-pointing and recriminations as a result of Arday’s death. A Cambridge-sponsored fundraiser for his family would be appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2026, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-following-this-bizarre-jason-arday-story-out-of-cambridge-university/1032289/70 "2026-08-14T20:23:16Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > SkyNews is reporting the death. That’s not exactly their strong suit: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/H5hcm-CZkKQ/hqdefault.jpg "Sky News - Harold Pinter blooper") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5hcm-CZkKQ) ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2026, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-following-this-bizarre-jason-arday-story-out-of-cambridge-university/1032289/71 "2026-08-14T20:25:20Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Nice excuse, except there doesn’t seem to be good evidence that people with autism are any more prone to plagiarism then non-autistics. Habitual liar lies about why he lied is par for the course. ---
**Author:** ![We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/We_re_wolves_not_werewolves)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2026, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-following-this-bizarre-jason-arday-story-out-of-cambridge-university/1032289/72 "2026-08-14T20:35:25Z")
If this is ruled a suicide, which seems likely to me, then this may sound a little harsh, but I don’t have much sympathy for this guy. He never took ownership of his lies, blaming any criticism of him as racially motivated. Then, when he suffered the repercussions of his lies, he doesn’t apologize, doesn’t work to improve himself, doesn’t pick himself up and admit his shortcomings, but instead kills himself, leaving behind an undoubtedly grieving family. That is someone who has refused to accept responsibility to the very end. ---
**Author:** ![3AxisCtrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/ecd19e/32.png) [@3AxisCtrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3AxisCtrl)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2026, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-following-this-bizarre-jason-arday-story-out-of-cambridge-university/1032289/73 "2026-08-14T21:28:54Z")
_The Guardian_ reports: “… his death is being treated as unexpected, but is not believed to be suspicious. …police are understood not to believe anyone else was involved in the death.” This seems desperately sad to me. So unnecessary. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2026, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-following-this-bizarre-jason-arday-story-out-of-cambridge-university/1032289/74 "2026-08-14T22:09:24Z")
I can see your POV, but depression can be a dangerous thing to have. If he had won this bout and survived, who knows? He might have learned something. The problem is that suicidal ideation can happen as instantly as flicking on a light switch, and can kill you before you have a chance to think anything through. If this was in fact suicide, I’d be shocked if it were his first depressive episode. I really feel for his family. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2026, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-following-this-bizarre-jason-arday-story-out-of-cambridge-university/1032289/75 "2026-08-14T22:49:06Z")
> [@We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](#): > > That is someone who has refused to accept responsibility to the very end. Couldn’t it be that he _did_ accept responsibility, at the very end? ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2026, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-following-this-bizarre-jason-arday-story-out-of-cambridge-university/1032289/76 "2026-08-14T23:03:43Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > depression can be a dangerous thing to have. How do we know he was suffering from depression? ---
**Author:** ![We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/We_re_wolves_not_werewolves)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2026, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-following-this-bizarre-jason-arday-story-out-of-cambridge-university/1032289/77 "2026-08-14T23:12:49Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Couldn’t it be that he _did_ accept responsibility, at the very end? that’s not the way I see it, but I will concede that maybe others could interpret it that way. I see it as someone taking the tragic, but still cowardly step of refusing to deal with issues that he created for himself. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2026, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-following-this-bizarre-jason-arday-story-out-of-cambridge-university/1032289/78 "2026-08-14T23:38:04Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > How do we know he was suffering from depression? Because all signs point to suicide, and suicide is almost always the result of depression. The fact that he was successful at killing himself also suggests he’s been thinking about it for a while. That’s assuming he killed himself, which has not been confirmed. I’m just going with what looks most likely. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2026, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-following-this-bizarre-jason-arday-story-out-of-cambridge-university/1032289/79 "2026-08-14T23:43:17Z")
> [@We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](#): > > I see it as someone taking the tragic, but still cowardly step of refusing to deal with issues that he created for himself. I felt that way when Epstein killed himself, but this guy only plagierized and made some stuff up. I do feel sympathy that these relatively minor transgressions would carry a death sentence. He could have worked this stuff out over time. But when you’re suicidal you don’t really see any other option. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2026, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-following-this-bizarre-jason-arday-story-out-of-cambridge-university/1032289/80 "2026-08-15T00:05:10Z")
Most suicide is a result of depression, but I don’t think this one was. This is a result of the fact that his life really was unraveling, and very quickly. Granted, it’s his own fault that his life was unraveling, and granted, he could have found a new course for his life somewhere other than academia. But I think it’s still enough to explain a suicide, even without depression. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-following-this-bizarre-jason-arday-story-out-of-cambridge-university/1032289.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anyone-else-following-this-bizarre-jason-arday-story-out-of-cambridge-university/1032289.md?page=5)