Oriel College at the University of Oxford is being urged by campaign groups, academics, and alumni to withdraw its facilities from an event scheduled for 17 November featuring Nathan Cofnas. The event, titled “An evening with Nathan Cofnas: Is DEI undermining higher education?,” is being organized by a student group called Oxon Universities’ Reform Society (OURS), which was established this year to support Reform UK.
Cofnas, a blogger and academic, made unproven accusations of plagiarism against Jason Arday, a 41-year-old Cambridge professor who was found dead in August following his resignation from the university. Arday had faced substantial media attention following Cofnas’s claims about his biographical background. Cofnas has faced criticism from others who contend his online writings promote pseudoscientific concepts regarding racial differences.
Those opposing the event, including signatories to an open letter, argue it could create a hostile atmosphere for ethnic minority students and potentially damage Oriel’s standing as a leading educational institution during its 700th anniversary year. The letter also contends that Cofnas’s blogging activity significantly contributed to the coverage Arday received. Author and professor Kehinde Andrews characterized the scheduled event as “despicable and disgusting” in online commentary.
Oriel College stated it must uphold freedom of speech as part of its statutory obligations while simultaneously maintaining an inclusive environment free from discrimination. The college indicated it assesses student-organized events according to its code of practice and noted that hosting an event does not constitute endorsement of the speaker’s views.
OURS responded by asserting that registered student societies have a legal right to host events at constituent colleges and emphasized its commitment to facilitating dialogue regarding Cofnas’s positions. The group stated it found it unusual that the university should face reputational concerns regarding an event organized solely by the society’s committee.
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