Exclusive: Cambridge colleagues argued a Google search would have prevented Nathan Cofnas hiring

Key Points:

• Nathan Cofnas, a controversial academic accused of race realist views, was dismissed by Cambridge's Emmanuel College in 2024 after a blog post linking race to academic ability sparked outrage and student protests.
• Cofnas accused sociologist Jason Arday of plagiarism, leading to intense media scrutiny of Arday, who died shortly after resigning amid the controversy; investigations later found key allegations against Arday to be unsubstantiated or exaggerated.
• Cofnas is currently under disciplinary investigation by Ghent University for his public statements but has received support from the US government, Elon Musk, and right-wing media outlets, highlighting a broader ideological conflict involving free speech and academic freedom.
• Internal Cambridge discussions revealed dissatisfaction with the hiring process that brought Cofnas on board, citing inadequate vetting of his views, and concerns were raised about how his race-related opinions could impact his teaching.
• Media watchdogs and academics criticized the aggressive media campaign against Arday as disproportionate and politically motivated, framing it as part of a coordinated right-wing effort to challenge Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies, with Cofnas linked to a network supported by influential figures like Peter Thiel.