Nathan Cofnas, who has claimed Black professors would virtually disappear from Harvard under a true meritocracy, has been invited to speak at Oxford University about whether diversity, equity and inclusion is undermining higher education.
Oxford Reform Society is organising the event at Oriel College’s Harris Lecture Theatre on Tuesday 17 November. The talk, titled “Is DEI Undermining Higher Education?”, is scheduled for 6pm to 7.30pm and includes a question-and-answer session.
The invitation follows Cofnas’s public allegations against Professor Jason Arday, which helped drive widespread scrutiny of the late Cambridge academic’s research and personal history. Arday denied plagiarism while acknowledging errors. Liverpool John Moores University investigated his doctoral thesis and concluded that his degree should stand.
Arday resigned from Cambridge on 5 August and was found dead nine days later. His treatment prompted criticism of both the university and the media, with Cambridge chancellor Chris Smith condemning a “racist feeding frenzy” while supporting rigorous investigation of academic integrity concerns.
Cofnas’s published opposition to DEI explicitly connects his political argument with claims about inherited racial differences in intellectual ability. In February 2024, he wrote: “Blacks would disappear from almost all high-profile positions outside of sports and entertainment.”
Oriel College told student publication Overheard at Oxford that the event was a booking by a registered university society. It said it generally permits such student bookings except in exceptional circumstances, adding: “Permission does not imply endorsement by the College.”
Cofnas’s views previously prompted complaints at Cambridge. A university investigation dismissed all 58 complaints about his blog posts, finding they did not amount to discrimination or harassment and represented lawful free speech. Emmanuel College had separately terminated his research affiliation in 2024.
Sources used for this report9 verified links
- Eventbrite: Oxford Reform Society event listing and promotional photograph
- Overheard at Oxford: Oxford Reform Society to host Nathan Cofnas at Oriel
- Nathan Cofnas: A Guide for the Hereditarian Revolution, 5 February 2024
- Times Higher Education: University suspends academic who accused Jason Arday of plagiarism
- Times Higher Education: Black academics condemn ridicule and vilification of Arday
- Varsity: University clears don accused of abhorrent racism, 3 October 2025
- JAM Radio: After Jason Arday, The Spectator turns its sights on Simon Woolley
- JAM Radio: Lord Simon Woolley calls for investigation into media treatment of Jason Arday
- JAM Radio: Cambridge students demand Vice-Chancellor resign
