The Toxic Legacy of 'Merit' in Academia The recent death of Jason Arday, a Black scholar who was subjected to bullying and racism at Cambridge University, highlights the institutionalized problems plaguing academia.
Beyond individual cases of misconduct or plagiarism, this tragedy reveals deeper issues that have been perpetuated for far too long.
The vilification of Arday by right wing media and some left wing commentators illustrates how "merit" can be used as a cudgel to silence marginalized voices.