709 Academics Back Nathan Cofnas Against Ghent Probe After 1-Week Suspension

3 articles · Updated · Inside Higher Ed · Aug 25

709 academics had signed an open letter by Monday urging Ghent University not to punish postdoctoral researcher Nathan Cofnas during its disciplinary proceedings.
The signatories said the probe appears to retaliate against Cofnas for publicizing alleged academic misconduct and argued academic freedom must protect scrutiny of other scholars, including plagiarism claims.
Ghent suspended Cofnas for 1 week on Friday while it investigates whether his “race realism” work falls outside his employment scope and whether he discriminated against Jason Arday or created a hostile environment.
The suspension came days after Arday resigned from Cambridge amid online attacks and speculation over his thesis, and after he was later found dead in London.
Cofnas said on X that Ghent will “almost certainly” fire him, while university spokespeople did not respond Monday to requests for comment on the letter.