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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Oxford poet resigns over vote row | Oxford poet resigns over vote row |
| (about 11 hours 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| It's deeply, deeply disappointing that things worked out this way Prof AC GraylingBirkbeck College | It's deeply, deeply disappointing that things worked out this way Prof AC GraylingBirkbeck College |
| He described it as a "low and degrading" campaign against him. | He described it as a "low and degrading" campaign against him. |
| Prof Padel insisted she had not taken part in a smear campaign. | 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. |
| 'Scurrilous campaign' | 'Scurrilous campaign' |
| 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. |
| One of those who had nominated her, AC Grayling, the Professor of Philosophy at Birkbeck College, told BBC Radio 4's The World Tonight she was right to step down. | One of those who had nominated her, AC Grayling, the Professor of Philosophy at Birkbeck College, told BBC Radio 4's The World Tonight she was right to step down. |
| "It would have been really marvellous actually to have a women professor of poetry at Oxford, had it been a straightforward, clean fight. | "It would have been really marvellous actually to have a women professor of poetry at Oxford, had it been a straightforward, clean fight. |
| "So it's deeply, deeply disappointing that things worked out this way and that this kind of scurrilous... campaign was run against Derek Walcott." | "So it's deeply, deeply disappointing that things worked out this way and that this kind of scurrilous... campaign was run against Derek Walcott." |
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| Poet Michael Horowitz describes how media manipulation has infected the world of poetry |