"Talking about it is one thing; doing it is what matters" - reflecting on the death of Professor Arday

In this blog post, we will be discussing the recent death of Professor Jason Arday and our team’s personal responses. We invite you to practice self-care, and only read if you feel able to do so.

“Talking about it is one thing; doing it is what matters.” - Professor Jason Arday

On Friday, it was announced that Professor Jason Arday had tragically died. The news of this loss felt deep and heavy. For weeks now, we have followed with concern as media outlets produced article after article filled with speculation, fuelling a public scrutiny that went far beyond what any individual should ever have to experience. First and foremost, our thoughts are with the family and friends of Professor Arday.

It is only right that we give space to recognising the incredible contributions Professor Arday made during his life. Professor Arday’s work focused on Race, Education and Society, and right from his earliest work put a spotlight on racial and ethnic inequality in British universities. Rooted in lived experience, he showed an unwavering commitment to breaking barriers for neurodivergent people, those from lower socio-economic backgrounds and individuals from racialised communities trying to build careers within academia. His work speaks to the heart of the Co-Production Collective community, and our wider friends and partners as we strive for an equitable academic landscape that values the importance of lived experience.  

Friday’s news weighs heavy as we reflect on a life lost, but also the wider political landscape that allowed such treatment of an individual to happen. Over the past few years, the UK has experienced an increasingly hostile environment, where hatred and division has been encouraged and utilised. The racist rhetoric of the far right is a live and horrifying challenge. We cannot ignore this backdrop behind the disproportionate and unrelenting media interest and widespread misinformation regarding Professor Arday, all under the guise of “academic integrity”.  

It must be questioned why a hateful campaign started by a man known for his racist views was given a media spotlight, especially when stories of white academics being investigated for plagiarism and serious allegations have failed to make headlines. The unrelenting scrutiny that Professor Arday faced, not only into his academic work but also his personal life, is a disparity that can be clearly understood as racism and an attempt to undermine his achievements with far-right rhetoric. For weeks, both publicly and privately, Professor Arday’s colleagues made clear the devastating consequences that this harassment could have on a person, especially an autistic person. The media’s choice to continue speaks to deep-seated neuro-normativity, and a lack of basic care. We passionately believe that all those responsible should be held to account.  

We know that for some of our community, the impact of this news will be even greater. We invite you to prioritise your wellbeing at this time. At the end of this blog, we have included a link to a report produced by one of our partners, which contains some wellbeing resources that you may wish to reach out to for further support.  It is important that as a Collective we are looking out for one another, and that support is available for those who need it.  

At Co-Production Collective, we are using this time to listen, reflect, and ask what more we can do to play our part in making much needed change within academia and connected institutions; we don’t take our responsibility to make change lightly.  

For those of us that feel able, we want to draw attention to practical actions that can be taken. The news is heartbreaking, and we are angry, but together we can call for real and tangible change.

• Good Law Project: A petition addressed to the UK Prime Minister and UK Culture Secretary calling for a public inquiry.
• Newscord: An email campaign sending personalised formal complaint letters to key media editors and directors. All you have to do is enter your name, email, postcode and tick to consent if you are happy to.
• Hacked Off, 33 Degrees: A petition addressed to the UK government for an inquiry into the culture of the press.
• Stand Up To Racism: Video coverage of Professor Jason Arday’s vigil, held on Monday 17th August in London, can be watched via the Stand Up To Racism instagram page.
• Black in Academia & Leading Routes: Professor Arday was passionate about supporting the next generation of Black academics through the work of Black In Academia and Leading Routes. These two organisations support young Black academics, and work to make Black-led academia more accessible. You can learn more about their work via their websites, and continue to support them.
• Everything Good About Jason Arday: A compilation of first-hand testimonies from people who knew Jason Arday, learned from his, or crossed paths with him. Get to know about Jason Arday, his work and his kindness beyond the reductionist narrative in the media.

If you are aware of any further campaigns, please do feel free to share with us so that we can get involved and share with others.

Wellbeing resources

National Suicide Prevention Alliance - Amplifying Our Voices: Racialised Perspectives in Suicide Prevention

This report describes the lived experiences, insights, and reflections of racialised people working in suicide prevention. A comprehensive list of wellbeing resources can be found on pages 21 and 22.

Samaritans  

Whatever a person is going through, Samaritans trained volunteers can provide emotional support and are available 24 hours a day.  

Telephone 116123  

Email  jo@samaritans.org  

Website  www.samaritans.org

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This blog was written by Asma, Hania, Helen, Nicc, Rosie and Sarah

Image credit: Andres F. Uran on Unsplash