--- title: "Ghent University suspends researcher over plagiarism claims against late professor" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/ghent-university-suspends-researcher-over-plagiarism-claims-against-late-profess" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/ghent-university-suspends-researcher-over-plagiarism-claims-against-late-profess" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/ghent-university-suspends-researcher-over-plagiarism-claims-against-late-profess.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/ghent-university-suspends-researcher-over-plagiarism-claims-against-late-profess" category: "Politics" area: "European Union" published: "2026-08-21T23:45:48.038Z" source_reported: "2026-08-21T21:43:45.000Z" updated: "2026-08-22T00:30:31.653Z" trust_score: 50 critic_score: 50 hype_score: 65 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-22T00:30:31.416798+00:00" --- # Ghent University suspends researcher over plagiarism claims against late professor *US ambassador condemns the university's decision to suspend Nathan Cofnas following allegations against Jason Arday.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 50 of 100, higher is better. Central claim attributed to named bodies, but relies on anonymous sourcing for Cofnas's suspension confirmation. - Craft 50 of 100, higher is better. Reporting is thin, with most sources providing digests and lacking quotes from affected parties or details on next steps. - Hype 65 of 100, lower is better. Headlines and language like 'retaliation' and 'censorship' suggest manufactured outrage. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Ghent University suspended US researcher Nathan Cofnas, who had raised plagiarism allegations against the late Cambridge professor Jason Arday. - The university stated the suspension was a "precautionary measure" and part of a preliminary disciplinary investigation. - US Ambassador to Belgium Bill White condemned the university's decision, calling it retaliation against a whistleblower. - Jason Arday, a professor of educational sociology at Cambridge, died on August 5 and his death is not considered suspicious by police. Ghent University has suspended US researcher Nathan Cofnas. Cofnas had previously made plagiarism allegations against Jason Arday, a professor at Cambridge University who died on August 5. The university described the suspension as a "precautionary measure" and stated it was part of a preliminary disciplinary investigation into a researcher involved in the case. Cofnas himself confirmed his suspension on the online platform X. The US Ambassador to Belgium, Bill White, condemned Ghent University's decision. In a statement, the US Mission to Belgium called the suspension "retaliation against an American scholar following his accurate whistleblower reporting on academic fraud." White indicated that Washington was "reviewing any relationships we have with Ghent University." ## Disagreement on Cofnas's past Deutschlandfunk reported that Nathan Cofnas had previously worked at Cambridge University but left in 2024 due to allegations of racism. None of the other reports mention Cofnas's past employment at Cambridge or any reasons for his departure. ## What the coverage left out None of the right-rated digests mention that Nathan Cofnas had previously worked at Cambridge University and left due to racism allegations, a detail reported by Deutschlandfunk. ## Who covered it Shares of the 11 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 9% (1) - Centre: 18% (2) - Right: 73% (8) 4 of 15 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-22T00:30:31.416798+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 7 times; 1 check found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-22T01:30:25.796Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left No separate framing summary. ### Centre - The centre-rated reports led on Ghent University suspending US researcher Nathan Cofnas. Both Deutschlandfunk and The Hill highlighted that Cofnas had accused the late Cambridge professor Jason Arday of plagiarism. Deutschlandfunk also reported that Cofnas had previously left Cambridge University in 2024 due to racism allegations. The Hill's report focused on US Ambassador Bill White condemning the university's decision. ### Right - The right-rated reports focused on the condemnation of Ghent University's decision by US officials. Headlines from GB News, Real Clear Politics, Anadolu Ajansı, Times of India, The Gateway Pundit, and Hot Air all highlighted the US government's criticism of the university's action. Several reports, including those from Real Clear Politics and The Gateway Pundit, characterised the suspension as "retaliation" against a "whistleblower" who exposed "academic fraud." Times of India quoted a "Trump official" calling the situation "scapegoating mob behavior." Anadolu Ajansı noted that Washington was reviewing its relationships with Ghent University. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - veryLow: 1 - mixed: 6 - high: 4 - unknown: 4 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Sahara Reporters](https://saharareporters.com/2026/08/21/us-condemns-ghent-universitys-suspension-scholar-over-plagiarism-row-late-cambridge) — US Condemns Ghent University's Suspension Of Scholar Over Plagiarism Row With Late Cambridge Professor - [GB News](https://gbnews.com/politics/us/jason-arday-donald-trump-administration-slams-belgian-university-suspending-critic) — Donald Trump official slams Belgian university for suspending Jason Arday critic - [Conservative News Daily](https://conservativenewsdaily.net/breaking-news/us-threatens-belgian-universitys-suspension-over-exposed-arday-fraud) — US threatens Belgian university’s suspension over exposed Arday fraud - [Washington Examiner](https://washingtonexaminer.com/news/4696488/us-threatens-belgian-university-over-suspension-academic-exposed-jason-arday-fraud) — US threatens Belgian university's suspension over exposed Arday fraud - [The Hill](https://thehill.com/policy/international/6044102-ghent-university-jason-arday-us-bill-white) — US ambassador to Belgium criticizes Ghent University’s suspension of professor over Jason Arday accusations - [Apollo News](https://apollo-news.net/unehrliche-korrupte-institutionen-us-botschafter-verurteilt-suspendierung-von-arday-aufdecker) — "Dishonest, Corrupt Institutions": US Ambassador Condemns Suspension of the Discoverer of Arday's Plagiarism - [Real Clear Politics](https://realclearpolitics.com/2026/08/21/us_condemns_ghent_universitys_retaliation_vs_professor_cofnas_708700.html) — U.S. Condemns Ghent University's Retaliation vs. Professor Cofnas - [Anadolu Ajansı](https://aa.com.tr/en/world/us-condemns-ghent-university-over-suspension-of-american-scholar-who-publicly-accused-late-professor-arday-of-plagiarism/4034248) — US condemns Ghent University over suspension of American scholar who publicly accused late professor Arday of plagiarism - [Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/scapegoating-mob-behavior-trump-official-slams-ghent-over-us-academic-nathan-cofnas-suspension/articleshow/133411005.cms) — ‘Scapegoating mob behavior’: Trump official slams Ghent over US academic Nathan Cofnas suspension - [Politics, Policy, Political News](https://politicom.com.au/u-s-ambassador-to-belgium-slams-ghent-universitys-retaliation-against-american-whistleblower-who-exposed-academic-fraud) — U.S. Ambassador to Belgium Slams Ghent University’s Retaliation Against American Whistleblower Who Exposed Academic Fraud - Politics, Policy, Political Views - [The Gateway Pundit](https://thegatewaypundit.com/2026/08/u-s-ambassador-belgium-slams-ghent-universitys-retaliation) — U.S. Ambassador to Belgium Slams Ghent University’s Retaliation Against American Whistleblower Who Exposed Academic Fraud * The Gateway Pundit * by Margaret Flavin - [Hot Air](https://hotair.com/david-strom/2026/08/21/boomity-us-government-fires-back-for-censorship-of-professor-who-exposed-arday-n3818237) — Boomity! US Government Fires Back for Censorship of Professor Who Exposed Arday - [De Morgen](https://demorgen.be/nieuws/dit-is-paniekvoetbal-rechtsfilosoof-over-de-schorsing-van-nathan-cofnas-aan-ugent~b436c6ad) — ‘This Is Panic Football’: Legal Philosopher on the Suspension of Nathan Cofnas at UGent - [Deutschlandfunk](https://deutschlandfunk.de/nach-tod-von-cambridge-professor-jason-arday-universitaet-gent-suspendiert-us-forscher-102.html) — Belgium - After the Death of Cambridge Professor Jason Arday: University of Ghent Suspends US Researchers - [ORF.at News](https://orf.at/stories/3439756) — Case Arday: Uni Ghent Suspends US Researchers ## Questions **Why was Nathan Cofnas suspended by Ghent University?** Ghent University suspended US researcher Nathan Cofnas as a precautionary measure and part of a preliminary disciplinary investigation. This followed Cofnas's plagiarism allegations against the late Cambridge professor Jason Arday. **What was the US Ambassador's reaction to the suspension?** US Ambassador to Belgium Bill White condemned Ghent University's decision, calling it retaliation against an American scholar for whistleblower reporting on academic fraud. Washington stated it was reviewing its relationships with the university. **Who was Jason Arday?** Jason Arday was a professor of educational sociology at Cambridge University. He died on August 5, and police have stated his death is not considered suspicious. He was the subject of plagiarism allegations made by Nathan Cofnas. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/ghent-university-suspends-researcher-over-plagiarism-claims-against-late-profess. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Ghent University suspends researcher over plagiarism claims against late professor", https://mediabias.news/politics/ghent-university-suspends-researcher-over-plagiarism-claims-against-late-profess