After facing accusations of being DEI hire, black former Cambridge professor found dead at home

Former Cambridge professor Jason Arday died on Friday. LONDON: Jason Arday, the Black former Cambridge university professor, has been found dead at his home after facing relentless public scrutiny and accusations of being a “DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) hire”.National Education Union general secretary Daniel Kebede said that Arday had been subjected to a “public and brutal takedown that unleashed a tirade of racism by the worst elements of the British media and right-wing commentariat”.The Metropolitan police said officers were called to Arday’s Battersea address just after 3 pm on Friday where he was found unresponsive. “His death is being treated as unexpected,” police said.The 41-year-old, who became Cambridge’s youngest black professor in 2023, resigned as a professor of sociology of education at the university on Aug 5 after Cambridge announced an investigation into his appointment.Originally, he was accused of plagiarising his PhD thesis at Liverpool John Moores University. But then other aspects of his life and achievements came under scrutiny.Upon resigning, Arday said: “The relentless accusations, speculation and public commentary have taken a profound toll on me....