Left-wing activists at Oxford University have called for the cancellation of an upcoming talk scheduled at Oriel College by Nathan Cofnas, the US academic who publicly accused the late Jason Arday of plagiarism. Cofnas is due to speak in a forum organised by the university’s Reform UK society next month on the effects of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies in higher education.

The Oxford branch of Stand Up to Racism has threatened to protest outside the college should the event proceed. The group described Cofnas’s involvement in the controversy surrounding Arday as part of a "racist witch hunt," stating that he is "not welcome on campus." Arday, a former Cambridge University professor of sociology of education, faced extensive public scrutiny after Cofnas raised questions about the originality of his doctoral thesis. The ensuing investigation by Cambridge prompted Arday’s resignation in August, shortly before his death. Arday denied plagiarism allegations but admitted to errors in his work.

Cofnas, who describes himself as a “race realist,” first raised plagiarism concerns in a July Substack post, noting that his review of Arday’s PhD using plagiarism detection software identified multiple passages closely mirroring original sources, including repeated copy-editing mistakes. The case sparked broader discussions about whether DEI initiatives influenced hiring practices at elite universities, including claims that Cambridge may have relaxed standards in an effort to bolster its diversity credentials.

Following the controversy, Cofnas, a former postdoctoral researcher at Ghent University’s department of philosophy and moral sciences, was suspended by the Belgian institution. The university stated it opposes discrimination and racism, but Cofnas alleged he was investigated on allegations of discriminatory behavior toward Arday. He was ultimately barred from teaching on campus for three months but was permitted to continue his research.

The recent demand to cancel Cofnas’s lecture forms part of a wider pattern of activism at Oxford aimed at preventing speakers deemed controversial from addressing campus audiences, with previous no-platforming attempts involving figures such as former Home Secretary Amber Rudd and academic Kathleen Stock.

Lord Young of Acton, founder and general secretary of the Free Speech Union, criticised calls to block Cofnas’s appearance, stating that universities should respond to disagreements through debate rather than censorship. An Oriel College spokesperson emphasised that the event was a student booking organised by a registered university society, clarifying that permission to use college facilities does not signal endorsement of the views expressed in the many diverse events held on site.