Prof Jason Arday\u2019s accuser Nathan Cofnas has been barred from teaching on Ghent University campus for three months but has been allowed to continue his research position.<\/p>\n
Cofnas, an American academic, was suspended<\/a> from his postdoctoral research position at the Belgian institution earlier this month pending a \u201cpreliminary investigation\u201d launched after Arday\u2019s death.<\/p>\n Ghent did not name Cofnas but has since confirmed that it has \u201cimposed a disciplinary measure\u201d on a staff member for three months, under which they were \u201crequired to work remotely and may not carry out any teaching\u201d. Cofnas\u2019s research activities in the role have been \u201cstrictly limited to the research topics for which the appointment was made\u201d.<\/p>\n In a post on X, Cofnas said he was grateful to Ghent\u2019s rector, Petra De Sutter, \u201cfor allowing me to stay\u201d.<\/p>\n The US ambassador to Belgium<\/a>, Bill White, who had criticised Cofnas\u2019s suspension, claimed on his official X account that the university and Cofnas had \u201camicably reached an agreement\u201d to lift the suspension, enabling the academic to complete his one-year appointment.<\/p>\n In a statement, Ghent said an inquiry was under way \u201cto determine if further disciplinary action is warranted\u201d. The university later confirmed it had been in contact with the US ambassador, who \u201cprovided further context regarding his statements on X\u201d.<\/p>\n Cofnas\u2019s role at Ghent has been controversial. In May, the university\u2019s philosophy department alleged to the institution\u2019s leaders that Cofnas had \u201cvery limited expertise\u201d<\/a> for his role researching \u201cthe future of liberalism\u201d and that he had a \u201cfar-right agenda\u201d.<\/p>\n In July Cofnas accused Arday, a University of Cambridge sociologist, of plagiarism, alleging also that there were \u201cserious questions\u201d about his biographical claims. Arday was found dead on 14 August.<\/p>\n Jason Arday was found dead on 14 August. He was accused of plagiarism by Cofnas. Photograph: Graeme Robertson\/The Guardian<\/p>\n