Cambridge Accused of Breaking Law by Only Offering Support to Black Dons

Cambridge dons have accused the university of breaching equality law by denying “support and advice” to academics who are not black.

The university contacted all students and staff in August following the death of Jason Arday to inform them that “black members of staff” could contact its “senior black leaders group” for assistance.

Academics believe the offer breached the Equality Act by failing to extend help “on the same basis irrespective of race”.

One don, who declined to be named for fear it could damage their career, told The Telegraph it was “quite an extraordinary message for senior members of staff to send via the university-wide email system”.

The Committee for Academic Freedom (CAF), which campaigns for free speech at universities, has written to Prof Deborah Prentice, the vice-chancellor, to express concerns on the academics’ behalf.

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The university sent the email to all staff and students on Aug 27 on behalf of the senior black leaders group, which consists of five black academics, following the death of Mr Arday.

He had resigned as professor of sociology of education at the University of Cambridge earlier that month following accusations of plagiarism.

The email – signed by Prof Franklin Aigbirhio, Sonita Alleyne, Prof Dame Ijeoma Uchegbu, Lord Woolley and Prof Toni Williams – told recipients that the group would offer “support and advice” to academics who were black.

It read: “Black members of staff are welcome to contact any of the members of the senior black leaders group for support and advice.”

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The email said Mr Arday’s death required the university to “strengthen – not retreat from – EDI [equality, diversity and inclusion] efforts” and claimed black academics “have to achieve far more and clear significantly higher hurdles than their peers” to succeed.

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