Over £150,000 Raised For Family Of Late Cambridge Professor Jason Arday Amid Plagiarism, Racism Controversy | Sahara Reporters

Vernon said the scale of donations demonstrated that many people in Britain remained concerned about Arday’s family and were angered by the circumstances surrounding the controversy that preceded his death.

More than £150,000 has been raised for the family of late University of Cambridge professor Jason Arday, as growing public reaction to his death has sparked fresh debate over racism, media scrutiny, and the treatment of Black academics in Britain.

The fundraising campaign was launched on Saturday by Windrush campaigner Sir Patrick Vernon, following Arday’s death on Friday, shortly after he resigned from his position as Professor of Sociology of Education at Cambridge amid plagiarism allegations.

Vernon said the scale of donations demonstrated that many people in Britain remained concerned about Arday’s family and were angered by the circumstances surrounding the controversy that preceded his death.

“Britain still cares – people, black, white, brown, care and feel angry about the situation,” Vernon said, according to The Guardian UK.

“People want to support the family. There’s lots of speculation about how much money Jason has or doesn’t have – that’s not the point. The fact is, people want to support the family because he’s dead, he’s died, and he has a young family.

“He has parents, and he has a family that he has supported, and people want to support the family.”

Arday, who was appointed to one of Cambridge’s senior academic positions, became the subject of intense media scrutiny after allegations concerning plagiarism emerged. He resigned from the university shortly before his death.

The university had previously announced that it would examine the circumstances surrounding his appointment and tenure, with the findings expected to contribute to a wider review of its procedures for appointing senior academics.

However, the institution is understood to have decided that proceeding with the investigation while Arday’s family mourns would not be appropriate.

Cambridge Chancellor Chris Smith on Monday broke his silence on the controversy, saying academic misconduct allegations should be investigated rigorously but warning against what he described as a racially charged campaign against the late professor.

“I do believe it is possible to hold to two principles at the same time: to believe in the importance of academic integrity, and where criticisms of plagiarism arise, about any academic, whoever they are, ensure that they are rigorously investigated,” Smith said.

“And also to refuse to join in a racist feeding frenzy over a particular academic.”

Vernon was among prominent figures who had publicly backed Arday as scrutiny intensified.

Green Party leader Zack Polanski and crossbench peer Simon Woolley were also among signatories to an open letter supporting the academic.

Vernon said the controversy surrounding Arday had raised wider questions about the British media, university accountability, press regulation and the state of race relations in the country.

Meanwhile, campaign group Stand Up to Racism is expected to hold a vigil for Arday at the steps of the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square, central London, at 6 pm on Monday.

The death has also prompted renewed attention to Cambridge’s handling of Arday’s welfare and the mental health support available to him during the period of intense public scrutiny.

Downing Street has so far declined to say whether an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Arday’s death would be considered, saying it was not prepared to comment on the matter “at this stage.”

The fundraising campaign continues to attract donations as supporters call for the focus to shift from the allegations surrounding Arday’s academic career to support for his bereaved family.