Ghent University imposes 3-month mandatory home-working on US researcher Nathan Cofnas, removes his teaching duties

The new measure follows Nathan Cofnas’s preventive suspension on 20 August. The suspension is reportedly now over, but it appears he cannot return to the university for the time being.

Ghent University has ordered Cofnas to work from home for three months and he is not permitted to carry out any teaching activities during this period. According to the university, all research activities carried out by Cofnas as part of his appointment at Ghent University must “remain strictly limited to the research topics for which he was appointed”, a notice on the university website states.

Ghent University has been asked to clarify the measure, but VRT News has not yet received a response.

What is at issue?

The controversial Ghent University researcher Nathan Cofnas – an American who describes himself as a ‘racial realist’ – was suspended by his university as a precautionary measure on 20 August. A preliminary disciplinary investigation was also launched.

The trigger was the death of former Cambridge professor Jason Arday. In an online article Cofnas had accused the academic of plagiarism, after which the British press pounced on the story. In England, Cambridge University launched an investigation into Arday, and Arday himself resigned. Not long afterwards, he was found dead.

Cofnas takes to X

Cofnas broke the news of his suspension via X. In that post, he suggested that the decision might have been politically motivated, as it had been taken by Rector De Sutter, “a former leading figure in the Flemish green party Groen”. “They will almost certainly sack me,” he concluded.

The university explicitly refers to this as a disciplinary measure within an ongoing staff case. Meanwhile, the preliminary disciplinary investigation against Cofnas is continuing. This should determine whether there is sufficient evidence to take further disciplinary action.

Academics back Cofnas, Rector De Sutter responds

Earlier, some 800 academics signed an open letter in which they described Ghent University’s disciplinary proceedings against Cofnas as retaliation. In the letter, the signatories ask Ghent University to protect Cofnas and not to impose any sanctions. They describe his statements as an exercise of academic freedom.

Ghent University Rector Petra De Sutter says that the university does not curtail academic freedom and, in fact, considers it to be of the utmost importance. She further states that too many people with insufficient knowledge of the matter are commenting on the disciplinary case.

Ghent University does not wish to comment further on the controversy surrounding the case. According to the university, preliminary disciplinary investigations must be able to be conducted “in complete serenity, independence and with respect for the rights of all those involved”.

“It would be inconsistent to, on the one hand, guarantee the confidentiality of the proceedings and, on the other, to prejudge the arguments or the possible outcome through the media. All parties involved will be given the opportunity, within the established procedures, to set out their position and defend themselves,” says Ghent University.

Inquiry into Arday’s death

The inquest into the death of Jason Arday has also begun in London, England. Chief Coroner Julian Morris told the British media that “the various reports suggest that Professor Arday died an unnatural death.”

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