Senior staff at Oxford condemn talk platforming Jason Arday accuser

Senior fellows and staff members at an Oxford college have condemned an event hosting Jason Arday accuser Nathan Cofnas, which will be held at Oriel College.

Nearly 50 members of Oriel’s senior common room (SCR) have signed a statement saying they “wish to make it clear” they do not agree with the claims made by self-defined “race realist” Mr Cofnas, which they called “racist, abhorrent and without scientific foundation”.

Professor Arday, who was Cambridge’s youngest ever Black professor, was found dead at his home in Battersea in August after he faced accusations of plagiarism trigged by a blog post written by Mr Cofnas.

He is due to speak at an event organised by Oxon Universities’ Reform Society (OURS) titled: “An evening with Nathan Cofnas: Is DEI undermining higher education?” at Oriel College’s Harris lecture hall on 17 November. Oriel College said it is “committed to upholding freedom of speech within the law and has a statutory duty to do so”.

But the event has attracted widespread criticism from students, a series of high-profile politicians and campaigners, and now staff at the college, who say the event has caused “great distress” among staff and students and in particular the College’s Black community.

Signed by academics in a personal capacity, the letter says Mr Cofnas’ views are “fundamentally at odds” with the values of equality, dignity and argues that freedom of speech “is not freedom for ideas or opinions to go unchallenged by evidence”.

“We wish to make clear that we do not support the views expressed by Nathan Cofnas,” the letter reads. “Freedom of speech includes the freedom to challenge what others say, and we believe it is essential to challenge ideas that perpetuate racial prejudice and undermine the dignity and belonging of members of our community.”

It adds the suggestion that Black people owe their place in universities and public life to anything other than their abilities is “wrong” and “diminishes the achievements of Black scholars, students, and professionals”.

The letter acknowledges the college’s legal obligations over freedom of speech, but warns that freedom of speech is “is not freedom for ideas or opinions to go unchallenged by evidence, questioning and argument”.

It comes after dozens of MPs and campaigners signed a separate open letter demanding the cancellation of the event last month.

“We value academic freedom,” the letter penned by Oxford Students’ Coalition against Racism and supported by Stand Up to Racism and Black Lives Matter UK read. “But free speech does not extinguish duties under the Equality Act 2010, including the Public Sector Equality Duty. Nor does it remove responsibility for the safety and welfare of Black students and staff.”

The signatories included a number of prominent campaigners, politicians, and celebrities including Beverley Knight, Professor Sir Patrick Vernon, Jeremy Corbyn, Nadia Whittome, and actor Zawe Ashton. Academic signatories include Professor Elleke Boehmer, Professor Robert Gildea, and Professor Jane Hiddleston.

In a statement on its website, Oriel College said: “Oriel College is committed to upholding freedom of speech within the law and has a statutory duty to do so. This includes the freedom to express views that many find deeply offensive.

“We are also committed to promoting inclusion and maintaining an environment that is free from all forms of discrimination and harassment, including racial discrimination.

“The event on 17 November is a student booking by a registered society at the University of Oxford.

“The College considers events booked by students who are committee members of registered societies according to our Code of Practice on Freedom of Speech. When an event is permitted, this does not imply endorsement by the College of the views of its speakers.

“When considering booking requests, the College takes seriously the security implications of events and the safety of its members.”

Mr Cofnas declined to comment, but previously told The Independent he and OURS had faced a torrent of abuse over the event and that he “will have to deliver my talk from behind a wall of security guards”.