A fundraiser established to support the family of the late former Cambridge professor, Jason Arday, has successfully surpassed the significant milestone of £30,000. This outpouring of generosity comes in the wake of Professor Arday’s untimely death, which occurred last Friday after emergency services responded to reports of an unresponsive man at an address in Battersea, south London. His passing followed his resignation from his position as professor of sociology of education at Cambridge just a week prior, amidst allegations of plagiarism.
The GoFundMe initiative, launched on Saturday afternoon by prominent Windrush campaigner Sir Patrick Vernon, saw its donations soar past £30,000 by early Sunday morning. The collective effort has garnered over 1,100 individual contributions, bringing the fund to 60% of its ambitious £50,000 target. On the crowdfunding platform, Sir Patrick paid a heartfelt tribute to Professor Arday, describing him as a “pioneering” academic. He further elaborated on his motivation for establishing the fund, stating, “I was one of the people who publicly supported Jason during the recent controversy because I was deeply concerned about the nature and intensity of the attacks directed towards him. I was also subject to media scrutiny for signing the letter of support and challenged in supporting Jason. Following his death, my immediate concern is now for Jason’s family. I am therefore establishing this fund to help contribute towards funeral, memorial and associated family costs and to provide practical support during an unimaginably difficult period.”
In response to this tragic event, the organization Stand Up To Racism has announced plans for a vigil to honor Professor Arday’s memory. This gathering is scheduled to take place on Monday at 6 pm on the steps of the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square, central London. Weyman Bennett, co-convenor of the group, released a statement asserting, “Jason Arday’s death is a tragedy – but make no mistake, it was the result of a racist witch hunt. For more than a week, the right-wing press, politicians and the far right have hounded Jason with the most vicious racism. They are spreading the far right lie that black people are only appointed because of the colour of our skin, rather than our ability. They have blood on their hands. Our thoughts are with Jason’s family, but we are furious with those who are to blame. Enough is enough.”
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham also commented on Professor Arday’s passing, characterizing it as a “tragedy” and advocating for a “moment of reflection.” During a visit to Cornwall, Burnham conveyed to reporters, “It’s a tragedy on so many levels, but particularly just for everybody who knew Jason, his family obviously, his friends. We think of think of them today. 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. A really sad, sad and sorry state of affairs and I think we all today think of Jason, his contribution, and his family and friends.”
The profound distress experienced by Professor Arday in the hours leading up to his death was revealed by Professor Simon Baron-Cohen, director of the Autism Research Centre at the University of Cambridge. Baron-Cohen recounted to the BBC that Professor Arday confided in him, expressing that he “couldn’t go on.” Baron-Cohen elaborated, “He was being subjected to relentless scrutiny, including ridicule, discrediting absolutely every detail of his life, and he wasn’t coping with the loss of his career, the loss of his reputation, and he felt he couldn’t go on.”
A statement issued by Professor Arday’s publisher, Simon & Schuster UK, on Friday, on behalf of his family, shed further light on the immense pressure he had endured. The family asserted, “Jason was subjected to a campaign of sustained abuse for the more than three years since he accepted the role of professor at Cambridge University by those who would leave no stone unturned in their quest to undermine him. The campaign of misinformation was too much for Jason, who was a gentle man and who always wanted to see the best in everyone. We are in shock to have lost this amazing father, partner, brother, uncle and son. We won’t comment further at this point beyond asking the press to leave us alone now, and to stop the campaign of harassment which has been waged against Jason and his family for too long.” This tragic sequence of events has sent shockwaves through academic and social circles, sparking considerable debate and widespread concern. For more context and evolving narratives, consider following breaking news.
