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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Oxford poet resigns over vote row | Oxford poet resigns over vote row |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The first woman to become the Oxford Professor of Poetry has resigned following questions over her role in an alleged smear campaign against a rival. | The first woman to become the Oxford Professor of Poetry has resigned following questions over her role in an alleged smear campaign against a rival. |
| But Ruth Padel said she had not engaged in smear tactics and had done "nothing intentional" to lead fellow contender Derek Walcott to pull out of the vote. | |
| Mr Walcott, 79 - who had been the favourite to win the post - withdrew following an anonymous letter campaign. | Mr Walcott, 79 - who had been the favourite to win the post - withdrew following an anonymous letter campaign. |
| An Oxford University spokeswoman said they "respected" Ms Padel's decision. | An Oxford University spokeswoman said they "respected" Ms Padel's decision. |
| "This has been a difficult chapter for all concerned and a period of reflection may now be in order," it said. | "This has been a difficult chapter for all concerned and a period of reflection may now be in order," it said. |
| Anonymous letters | Anonymous letters |
| Mr Walcott pulled out of the contest after Oxford academics received more than 100 anonymous letters reportedly detailing an allegation of sexual harassment made against him in 1982. | |
| He described it as a "low and degrading" campaign against him. | |
| Prof Padel insisted she had not taken part in a smear campaign. | |
| She said: "As a result of student concern, I naively - and with hindsight unwisely - passed on to two journalists, whom I believed to be covering the whole election responsibly, information that was already in the public domain." | She said: "As a result of student concern, I naively - and with hindsight unwisely - passed on to two journalists, whom I believed to be covering the whole election responsibly, information that was already in the public domain." |
| She added: "I acted in complete good faith, and would have been happy to lose to Derek, but I can see that people might interpret my actions otherwise. | She added: "I acted in complete good faith, and would have been happy to lose to Derek, but I can see that people might interpret my actions otherwise. |
| "I wish to do what is best for the university and I understand that opinion there is divided. I therefore resign from the Chair of Poetry. I hope wounds will now heal and I wish the next professor all the best." | "I wish to do what is best for the university and I understand that opinion there is divided. I therefore resign from the Chair of Poetry. I hope wounds will now heal and I wish the next professor all the best." |
| She said she would make a full statement in person at the Hay Festival of Literature, in Powys, on Tuesday morning. | She said she would make a full statement in person at the Hay Festival of Literature, in Powys, on Tuesday morning. |
| Professor Padel was elected with 297 votes cast by Oxford graduates and academic staff, making her the first woman to take up the role since its creation in 1708. | Professor Padel was elected with 297 votes cast by Oxford graduates and academic staff, making her the first woman to take up the role since its creation in 1708. |