"Where is the strong defence of Sociology as an important and worthy subject for instance?
... underlying much of this is an attack on the Humanities and a huge dismissal of the value of study, of the social sciences."
If sociology and the humanities in general are important then they need to act like it. The fact that almost all the academics in the field seem to be practically stereotypes of woke doesn't help make the case for supporting them. I think these fields need some radical housecleaning before they can be taken seriously
Oh come on - sociology has always been a joke subject. I remember years ago it was always chosen as an extra O or A level as you could always be sure of a good pass with minimal work - a bit like "General Studies".
As for the DEI nonsense - bin it and start looking for ways to improve the dire prospects of the white working class instead of the already pampered minorities.
Well said - thanks for combing out the various strands of this sad story and setting it out with such clarity. The parallels you draw are spot on. DEI is great in theory but can't be used as a sticking plaster. There is an important difference between this case and the hounded 'GC' women, which is that they *did* (do) have the academic credentials to defend their position - they weren't hired as women for DEI quotas and weren't challenged on their *academic* integrity. Which probably also means they had more intellectual ammunition to fight back - his extreme vulnerability makes Arday's plight all the more tragic.
Btw the collarbone is really sore - I reckon you're justified in taking time out for it without pausing the clock here. I'd be happy to pay sick leave if you're still able to produce gems like this from time to time :)
Great article. I have found the whole sorry saga crazy. It is quite sad that Cambridge, who massively over promoted someone for their own ridiculous means, is now seeking to blame the press. Cambridge bears some responsibility for this (well a lot).
Arday was a fantasist and intelligent academics at Cambridge should, if they are as clever as they would argue that they are, should have seen this (easily). There was a media pile on, but it was no different to the media pile on others who lie or cheat (or if I am generous misunderstand the tax regime) get. Of recent note would be Angela and her council tax non payment. The media had a field day with her. There are many many other examples of media pile ons.
I had exactly the same observation that you made about sex realists and the attacks they have had to endure with no support. They have lost their jobs, careers, been cancelled, lost friends, abused and harassed (including sent death threats). The stress they go through including being in court to defend themselves is massive. Where is the support from the left for them??!!! It is not there. Somehow, they keep going.
When a social media post quoted that all Arday did was make a “mistake” and for that he was harassed etc, I was incredulous. Cheating is not a mistake. It is intentional. If you plagiarise at university as a student I think you can fail to obtain a degree.
What is clear is that if Cambridge wants to remain a serious university, its academic standards need to be maintained, in both who enters as students and who are employed as professors. It is Cambridge who should reflect on how they behaved.
This is a tragedy for his family. But if academic rigour had been applied at all levels of his education, this would have never happened.
People who tried to raise concerns literally had the police investigate them for “possible racism”. Arday was a fantasist who probably desperately needed to believe his own lies to avoid some kind of emptiness, the kind that always seems to start in childhood. He was used by a vain and vacuous elite intent on signalling the false “inclusivity” of their establishment. If his university cared at all about him they’d have taken him aside years ago and he could have avoided running out of options. https://youtube.com/shorts/2BJh-5j6KdE?si=Mhp49lrT91DWEarM
There has been so much noise around this. So it’s very welcome to read something quietly thoughtful, and brave enough to acknowledge that there is much that we don’t know. Thanks for dimming the lights and turning down the volume.
Wishing you a gentle but full recovery from your broken collarbone x
This is one of the best reflection pieces that I've read on Jason Arday (and I've read quite a few!) Genuinely reflective and thoughtful, with some really positive recommendations for taking things forward. It's so important not to throw babies out with the bathwater. Thank you. I'm perhaps not quite as sanguine as you are about the prospects for the Democrats in the States but let's see what the midterms tell us. I think a lot of American voters (who are basically middle of the road) are getting fed up with the posturing of the 'big two' - I understand Independent registrations are at an all-time high.
Wishing you as speedy a recovery as possible from what sounds like a really nasty injury.
Good thoughts, appreciated. Just to add, I'm a bit upset by those saying Arday was a cheat, a fraud, etc. It seems abundantly obvious to me that he felt utterly fragile inside (whether this is to do with autism or not, I don't know) and therefore created (probably without deliberation, more instinctive and subconscious) a persona that could give him a sense of being a worthwhile human being. I don't for a moment think he set out to fool people, and his presumed suicide shows all too clearly how fragile the inner world was when the outer was stripped away, attacked.
We forgive your silence, Suzanne. Do allow yourself some breathing space to fully recover.
But I was glad to see your substack pop up in my inbox this morning and to read your thoughtful reflections on the disturbing and multifaceted story about and around Jason Arday.
For those of us who have watched the silencing of debate in Western academia, the foregrounding of certain ideological positions, the removal of whistleblowers, the fashions in publishing; parts of this story touch familiar ground.
I have been encouraged to read some good reflective journalism across the political spectrum, both here and in the US. Will we ultimately remember Jason Arday's life and tragic death as the catalyst that provoked a rethinking of the glib performative politics thst have done such damage not only to many individuals but to the institutions themselves? Thst would be a great legacy.
Thanks Margaret. I think some particularly good pieces coming from the states . New York Times and Tyler Austen Harper in The Atlantic. Will add links in bit .
Sorry to read this but good to hear that you have made some improvement. I hope you’re fully better soon. Peter
Brilliantly said, such an eloquently balanced perspective on the whole thing, admirably thought out, logical yet deeply kind and compassionate.
I hope your healing goes well, completely and quickly!
X
Get well soon Suzanne, sounds like your collar bone had a major break, ouch ouch just thinking about it.
Like your thoughts on Arday, ideology and neurodivergence. That bit about dialling down lights, sounds etc so wise and the power of it.
"Where is the strong defence of Sociology as an important and worthy subject for instance?
... underlying much of this is an attack on the Humanities and a huge dismissal of the value of study, of the social sciences."
If sociology and the humanities in general are important then they need to act like it. The fact that almost all the academics in the field seem to be practically stereotypes of woke doesn't help make the case for supporting them. I think these fields need some radical housecleaning before they can be taken seriously
Oh come on - sociology has always been a joke subject. I remember years ago it was always chosen as an extra O or A level as you could always be sure of a good pass with minimal work - a bit like "General Studies".
As for the DEI nonsense - bin it and start looking for ways to improve the dire prospects of the white working class instead of the already pampered minorities.
Well said - thanks for combing out the various strands of this sad story and setting it out with such clarity. The parallels you draw are spot on. DEI is great in theory but can't be used as a sticking plaster. There is an important difference between this case and the hounded 'GC' women, which is that they *did* (do) have the academic credentials to defend their position - they weren't hired as women for DEI quotas and weren't challenged on their *academic* integrity. Which probably also means they had more intellectual ammunition to fight back - his extreme vulnerability makes Arday's plight all the more tragic.
Btw the collarbone is really sore - I reckon you're justified in taking time out for it without pausing the clock here. I'd be happy to pay sick leave if you're still able to produce gems like this from time to time :)
Great article. I have found the whole sorry saga crazy. It is quite sad that Cambridge, who massively over promoted someone for their own ridiculous means, is now seeking to blame the press. Cambridge bears some responsibility for this (well a lot).
Arday was a fantasist and intelligent academics at Cambridge should, if they are as clever as they would argue that they are, should have seen this (easily). There was a media pile on, but it was no different to the media pile on others who lie or cheat (or if I am generous misunderstand the tax regime) get. Of recent note would be Angela and her council tax non payment. The media had a field day with her. There are many many other examples of media pile ons.
I had exactly the same observation that you made about sex realists and the attacks they have had to endure with no support. They have lost their jobs, careers, been cancelled, lost friends, abused and harassed (including sent death threats). The stress they go through including being in court to defend themselves is massive. Where is the support from the left for them??!!! It is not there. Somehow, they keep going.
When a social media post quoted that all Arday did was make a “mistake” and for that he was harassed etc, I was incredulous. Cheating is not a mistake. It is intentional. If you plagiarise at university as a student I think you can fail to obtain a degree.
What is clear is that if Cambridge wants to remain a serious university, its academic standards need to be maintained, in both who enters as students and who are employed as professors. It is Cambridge who should reflect on how they behaved.
This is a tragedy for his family. But if academic rigour had been applied at all levels of his education, this would have never happened.
People who tried to raise concerns literally had the police investigate them for “possible racism”. Arday was a fantasist who probably desperately needed to believe his own lies to avoid some kind of emptiness, the kind that always seems to start in childhood. He was used by a vain and vacuous elite intent on signalling the false “inclusivity” of their establishment. If his university cared at all about him they’d have taken him aside years ago and he could have avoided running out of options. https://youtube.com/shorts/2BJh-5j6KdE?si=Mhp49lrT91DWEarM
There has been so much noise around this. So it’s very welcome to read something quietly thoughtful, and brave enough to acknowledge that there is much that we don’t know. Thanks for dimming the lights and turning down the volume.
Wishing you a gentle but full recovery from your broken collarbone x
We miss you too! 🙏💕
Thank you for writing this and ordering the many conflicting thoughts that I’ve had since the start of this saga. Very well articulated.
Bone pain is ghastly, you have my deepest sympathy.
Well said, as ever.
Good to see you back.
Thats really rotten (and often very painful). Take great care, Suzanne. Hope you feel much better soon.
This is one of the best reflection pieces that I've read on Jason Arday (and I've read quite a few!) Genuinely reflective and thoughtful, with some really positive recommendations for taking things forward. It's so important not to throw babies out with the bathwater. Thank you. I'm perhaps not quite as sanguine as you are about the prospects for the Democrats in the States but let's see what the midterms tell us. I think a lot of American voters (who are basically middle of the road) are getting fed up with the posturing of the 'big two' - I understand Independent registrations are at an all-time high.
Wishing you as speedy a recovery as possible from what sounds like a really nasty injury.
Good thoughts, appreciated. Just to add, I'm a bit upset by those saying Arday was a cheat, a fraud, etc. It seems abundantly obvious to me that he felt utterly fragile inside (whether this is to do with autism or not, I don't know) and therefore created (probably without deliberation, more instinctive and subconscious) a persona that could give him a sense of being a worthwhile human being. I don't for a moment think he set out to fool people, and his presumed suicide shows all too clearly how fragile the inner world was when the outer was stripped away, attacked.
We forgive your silence, Suzanne. Do allow yourself some breathing space to fully recover.
But I was glad to see your substack pop up in my inbox this morning and to read your thoughtful reflections on the disturbing and multifaceted story about and around Jason Arday.
For those of us who have watched the silencing of debate in Western academia, the foregrounding of certain ideological positions, the removal of whistleblowers, the fashions in publishing; parts of this story touch familiar ground.
I have been encouraged to read some good reflective journalism across the political spectrum, both here and in the US. Will we ultimately remember Jason Arday's life and tragic death as the catalyst that provoked a rethinking of the glib performative politics thst have done such damage not only to many individuals but to the institutions themselves? Thst would be a great legacy.
Thanks Margaret. I think some particularly good pieces coming from the states . New York Times and Tyler Austen Harper in The Atlantic. Will add links in bit .
Yes I've seen both of those. Makes me hopeful.
Also highly recommended
https://x.com/i/status/2087926437693039093
Get better. Good piece. Now step away from the laptop…😂❤️