牛津大学奥里尔学院近日面临多方压力，被要求取消由支持英国改革党的学生团体“牛津大学改革协会”（OURS）策划的、涉及内森·科夫纳斯的活动 1。该活动定于11月17日在学院Harris礼堂举行，主题为“与内森·科夫纳斯共度夜晚：DEI是否正在破坏高等教育？” 1。联名公开信的签署者包括牛津相关活动团体、英国学者、公众成员及校友，他们指控科夫纳斯利用该平台宣扬歧视性信念，并警告此举可能为少数族裔学生营造敌对氛围，进而损害学院声誉 1。
此次争议的背景涉及杰森·阿代事件。41岁的阿代于8月去世，此前因科夫纳斯提出未经证实的剽窃指控以及对其传记声明的质疑而遭受媒体审视 1。黑人群体研究教授Kehinde Andrews对此表示强烈谴责，称该活动“卑鄙且令人厌恶”，并指认此前存在针对阿代的“协调一致的抹黑运动” 1。面对抗议和关于种族歧视的指控，奥里尔学院发布声明强调其有法定义务在法律范围内维护言论自由，同时致力于促进包容性，并指出批准举办此类活动并不代表学院背书演讲者的观点 1。另一方面，组织者OURS声称其参与者遭遇了在线敌意，并坚持认为学院有法律义务举办此类活动 1。
Oriel College in Oxford has faced calls to cancel a student-led event scheduled for November 17 featuring Nathan Cofnas, the academic who previously accused Professor Jason Arday of plagiarism. 1 The debate, titled "An Evening with Nathan Cofnas: Is DEI Ruining Higher Education?", is organized by Oxon Universities’ Reform Society (OURS), a pro-Reform UK group established this year. 1 The upcoming appearance has drawn sharp criticism from campaigners who argue that hosting Cofnas could create a hostile environment for minority students and damage the college’s reputation. 1
The controversy centers on the circumstances surrounding the death of 41-year-old Jason Arday in August, which occurred after he was subjected to intense media scrutiny following Cofnas’s unverified plagiarism allegations and challenges to his biographical claims. 1 A joint letter signed by Oxford campaigning groups, British academics, members of the public, and alumni condemns Cofnas for using platforms to promote discriminatory beliefs. 1 Kehinde Andrews, a professor of Black studies, described the planned event as "vile and disgusting" and characterized prior actions against Arday as a "coordinated smear campaign." 1
Despite the protests and accusations of racism, Oriel College issued a statement emphasizing its statutory duty to uphold freedom of speech within the limits of the law. 1 The college clarified that approving such events does not constitute an endorsement of the speakers’ views, while maintaining its commitment to fostering inclusivity. 1 In response to the backlash, OURS claimed that participants have encountered online hostility and insisted that the college is legally obligated to host the event. 1
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