Oriel College at the University of Oxford has been urged to cancel an event featuring Nathan Cofnas that has been arranged by student supporters of Reform UK. The gathering, described by organisers as a discussion on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), has drawn criticism because of Cofnas's public role in accusing a fellow academic of misconduct.
The controversy stems from allegations made by Cofnas against Jason Arday, a 41-year-old academic who resigned from his professorship at the University of Cambridge and was later found dead in August. Cofnas accused Arday of plagiarism and said there were "serious questions" about aspects of his biographical claims; those accusations have not been proven.
Student supporters of Reform UK at Oriel organised the evening as part of campus activity addressing DEI themes. The planned appearance has prompted calls for the college to intervene, reflecting heightened sensitivities around hosting speakers who have been involved in high-profile disputes.
The situation at Oriel echoes wider debates on British university campuses about free speech, the boundaries of academic criticism and the responsibilities of institutions when contentious figures are invited to speak. College officials and student organisers have not publicly altered the event schedule, and the matter continues to draw attention from both critics and defenders of the planned discussion.