The story of Jason Arday, the Cambridge professor who has just resigned amid a scandal involving plagiarism, fabulism, and résumé-padding, has rattled a number of skeletons in Western academia’s closet. In 2023, Arday became the youngest black professor at the University of Cambridge when he was appointed professor in the sociology of education at the age of 37. On his brisk voyage to the top of British academia, he was showered with prizes and awarded honorary degrees by four UK universities. Cambridge University initially leapt to Arday’s defence and called the allegations against him a “vile campaign to undermine his credibility”. If only five percent of black students actually graduated, this guaranteed static from advocacy groups and foundations.