Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
In 2023, Jason Arday was appointed a professor of sociology at Cambridge University, making him the youngest Black professor there. Shortly after that, allegations that Arday plagiarized parts of his Ph.D thesis began.
Those allegations quickly spiraled into questions about every aspect of his life. After relentless attacks online and in the media, Arday resigned from this position, and a few days later he was found dead, likely taking his own life.
Tyler Austin Harper, a staff writer for The Atlantic, spoke to Vox about who is to blame for this tragedy. Is it the institutions that put Arday on a pedestal? Or the racist attacks and accusations of DEI online?
Listen to the full episode of Today, Explained wherever you get your podcasts.
Subscribe to our channel and turn on notifications (đ) so you don't miss any videos: goo.gl/0bsAjO
Vox.com is a news website that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines. Check out http://www.vox.com.
Watch our full video catalog: goo.gl/IZONyE
Follow Vox on TikTok: tiktok.com/@voxdotcom
Check out our articles: vox.com
Listen to our podcasts: vox.com/podcasts
In 2023, Jason Arday was appointed a professor of sociology at Cambridge University, making him the youngest Black professor there. Shortly after that, allegations that Arday plagiarized parts of his Ph.D thesis began.
Those allegations quickly spiraled into questions about every aspect of his life. After relentless attacks online and in the media, Arday resigned from this position, and a few days later he was found dead, likely taking his own life.
Tyler Austin Harper, a staff writer for The Atlantic, spoke to Vox about who is to blame for this tragedy. Is it the institutions that put Arday on a pedestal? Or the racist attacks and accusations of DEI online?
Listen to the full episode of Today, Explained wherever you get your podcasts.
Subscribe to our channel and turn on notifications (đ) so you don't miss any videos: goo.gl/0bsAjO
Vox.com is a news website that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines. Check out http://www.vox.com.
Watch our full video catalog: goo.gl/IZONyE
Follow Vox on TikTok: tiktok.com/@voxdotcom
Check out our articles: vox.com
Listen to our podcasts: vox.com/podcasts
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