Arday: from questions to vilification

The row about Cambridge professor Jason Arday moved fast from reasonable questions to reckless vilification. “Black Leaders in Higher Education” , a group of Black professors, university managers, etc., has produced a measured statement, pointedly avoiding implied calls for new state controls on the media.

Black Leaders in Higher Education extend our deepest condolences to Professor Jason Arday’s family, friends, colleagues and all those who knew and loved him. We are deeply saddened by the loss of a Black academic and colleague and we recognise that this feeling will be shared across our community.

We have been deeply concerned by the scale and intensely personal nature of some of the public scrutiny directed at Professor Arday, including commentary that moved beyond legitimate questions of academic integrity into personal ridicule and vilification. As Black academics and professional services staff we recognise aspects of this experience and what they raise about how Black academics are represented, judged and discussed within and outside academia. As the appropriate next steps are taken, we reaffirm the importance of integrity, equity, fairness, transparency and consistency in how Black staff are treated across our institutions, today and in the future. Specifically, we affirm that there is undoubted public interest in academic integrity and scrutiny, but this must apply equally to all academics.

We urge universities to recognise the impact events of this nature can have beyond those directly involved. Institutions should ensure that active support and appropriate assurances are available to their communities, particularly to Black students, academics and professional services staff who may be affected by the debates surrounding this case.

We will ask the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) to consider the nature and extent of reporting concerning Professor Arday’s private life and whether relevant editorial standards were upheld.