The death of Cambridge professor Jason Arday should indeed be a reason for reflection, as British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said. Reflection, however, should mean that we resist both the sanctification of Arday and his complete condemnation.

We do not yet know the whole truth behind all of the allegations, while the Arday case is already at the center of a broader discussion about academic ethics, the responsibility of universities, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies.

If the serious questions regarding his qualifications and academic work are ultimately confirmed, there is, however, another crucial issue: Who appointed him, and how was his candidacy evaluated? Cambridge has now announced an independent investigation into the process of his appointment. A Western institution cannot benefit from an appointment of symbolic significance and, when that symbolism backfires, leave the entire burden on the individual himself to deal with the sad consequences.

Institutional responsibility, or even moral involvement, does not disappear simply because problems with this individual have been revealed. From the whole affair, it somehow seems to emerge that this professor, unfortunately, was also a fantasist. Or, to put it another way, there seems to have been quite a bit of stupidity in many of the things he said.

What I Believe About the Woke Agenda

In a recent post on the occasion of this case, psychologist Nancy........

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