Key facts
- Oriel College urged to cancel event featuring Nathan Cofnas.
- Cofnas made unproven plagiarism accusations against late Cambridge professor Jason Arday.
- Event scheduled for November 17 at Oriel College.
- Organized by Oxon Universities’ Reform Society (OURS), a student group supporting Reform UK.
- Critics cite risks of hostile environment and damage to institutional reputation.
Oriel College at the University of Oxford has been urged to cancel an event featuring Nathan Cofnas, who made unproven plagiarism accusations against the late Cambridge professor Jason Arday. The event, organized by the Oxon Universities’ Reform Society (OURS), a student group supporting Reform UK, is scheduled for November 17 and is titled "An evening with Nathan Cofnas: Is DEI undermining higher education?"
An open letter signed by various groups and individuals calls on Oriel College to withdraw its facilities, arguing the event risks creating a hostile environment for students, particularly those of ethnic minorities, and could undermine the institution's role. Critics accuse Cofnas of promoting discriminatory beliefs and contributing to the media scrutiny Arday faced before his death in August.
Oriel College stated it is committed to freedom of speech within the law and to promoting inclusion, emphasizing that permitting an event does not imply endorsement of the speaker's views. The college also noted that it considers security implications and the safety of its members. OURS defended its decision to host Cofnas, asserting that as a registered student society, colleges are legally obligated to host their events and that responsibility rests solely with the society's committee.