Oxford college pressured to drop Cofnas event
Student group behind the gathering argues the college has a legal duty to host the speaker, while critics cite the recent death of a Cambridge professor.
By Vanessa Lopez ·
Oriel College at the University of Oxford faces pressure to cancel a November event featuring Nathan Cofnas, the blogger who accused the late Jason Arday of plagiarism. The gathering, scheduled for November 17 in the Harris lecture theatre, has drawn an open letter from alumni and academics urging the institution to withdraw its facilities.
The letter cites the recent death of Arday, a 41-year-old professor at the University of Cambridge who was found dead in August after resigning. Cofnas had publicly questioned Arday's biographical claims and suggested there were serious issues regarding his work. Signatories of the letter argue that hosting Cofnas risks creating a hostile environment for students, particularly those from ethnic minorities.
The event is titled "An evening with Nathan Cofnas: Is DEI undermining higher education?" and is organized by Oxon Universities’ Reform Society, a student group established this year to support the Reform UK party. The group states it is a registered society and therefore the college is legally obligated to host it. In a statement, the society noted that the decision to invite Cofnas was made solely by its committee.
Kehinde Andrews, the UK's first professor of Black studies, described the event as "despicable and disgusting" in an online post. Days before Arday died, Andrews told The Guardian that the academic was facing a "dedicated, coordinated smear campaign from the right" based on the premise that Black people should not be at Cambridge.
Oriel College responded by stating it is committed to upholding freedom of speech within the law. The college noted that permitting an event does not imply endorsement of the speaker's views. It also said it takes security implications and the safety of its members seriously when considering booking requests.
The student group claimed on social media that Cofnas and the organizers have faced a "disturbing torrent of online hostility." The society added that it finds it strange for the university to suffer reputational damage from an event that falls entirely under the society's responsibility.
Cofnas was approached for comment regarding the ongoing debate over the November 17 date.
Source: The Guardian
