Will there be disciplinary consequences for professor Hilary Cremin concerning her support Janson Arday?

 

Will there be disciplinary consequences for professor Hilary Cremin concerning her support Janson Arday?

No official disciplinary consequences have been announced for Professor Hilary Cremin.

While she faces intense public scrutiny and a growing academic backlash for her staunch backing of Jason Arday, the University of Cambridge has not stated that she is under formal disciplinary investigation.

 

Current Status of the Controversy

• Arday’s Resignation: Following allegations of plagiarism, credential inflation, and CV fabrication, Professor Jason Arday resigned from his post with immediate effect.
• The Investigation Context: While Cambridge's investigation into Arday's qualifications is continuing despite his departure, there is no indication that the scope of this inquiry has been expanded to include disciplinary measures against Cremin.
• Cremin's Role in the Hiring: Defending her position, reports note that Cremin did not actually sit on the specific selection panel that appointed Arday. The Board of Electors, which made the unanimous hiring decision, was chaired by Baroness Sally Morgan.

Why Cremin is Facing Criticism

Despite the lack of formal disciplinary action, Cremin remains at the center of the controversy due to how she handled the initial red flags:

• Dismissal of Early Warnings: When other academics initially brought detailed evidence of Arday's alleged plagiarism to Cambridge in May 2023, Cremin dismissed the complaints. She explicitly stated that Arday had the department’s "full support".
• Controversial Defense: Internal emails leaked to the press revealed that Cremin defended Arday's flawed 2018 scholarship by citing his "moving" personal experiences with racism and health issues. Critics have fiercely condemned this response, arguing she prioritized diversity initiatives over fundamental academic integrity and ethics