Ghent University bans Cofnas from teaching for three months

Ghent University in Belgium has banned American scholar Nathan Cofnas from teaching on university premises for three months, while allowing him to continue his research work. The university did not name the employee subject to the disciplinary measure, but The Guardian reports that it concerns Cofnas.

Terms of the disciplinary measure

Under the university's decision, the employee must work remotely and may not teach. His research activity has also been strictly limited to the topics he was appointed to study. Cofnas holds a postdoctoral research position at the university.

Earlier in August, Cofnas was suspended from work pending a preliminary investigation launched after the death of Cambridge University sociologist Jason Arday. Ghent University said the investigation is ongoing and is intended to determine whether there are grounds for further disciplinary measures.

Cofnas wrote on social media platform X that he was grateful to Ghent University Rector Petra De Sutter for the opportunity to remain at the institution.

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Statements by the US ambassador

US Ambassador to Belgium Bill White, who had previously criticized Cofnas's suspension, said on his official X account that the university and the scholar had allegedly reached a peaceful agreement to lift the suspension. According to White, this will allow Cofnas to complete his one-year appointment. The university confirmed that it had been in contact with the US ambassador, who provided additional context regarding his posts on X.

In May, Ghent University's philosophy department told the university's management that Cofnas had very limited expertise to research the future of liberalism and also claimed that he had a far-right agenda. In July, Cofnas accused Arday of plagiarism and said there were serious questions about his biographical claims. Arday was found dead on August 14.

Ghent University said it would not comment further on the dispute, stressing the need for the preliminary disciplinary investigation to be conducted calmly and independently, with respect for the rights of all those involved.