This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/entertainment/arts_and_culture/8067432.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Oxford poet 'sorry' over vote row | Oxford poet 'sorry' over vote row |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The first woman to become the Oxford Professor of Poetry has apologised for her role in the alleged smear campaign which led her to resign. | The first woman to become the Oxford Professor of Poetry has apologised for her role in the alleged smear campaign which led her to resign. |
| Ruth Padel apologised "for anything I have done which can be misconstrued" against fellow contender Derek Walcott. | Ruth Padel apologised "for anything I have done which can be misconstrued" against fellow contender Derek Walcott. |
| She insisted she had done "nothing intentional" to lead Walcott to withdraw despite briefing journalists. | She insisted she had done "nothing intentional" to lead Walcott to withdraw despite briefing journalists. |
| Walcott, 79, withdrew following an anonymous letter campaign reportedly detailing sexual harassment claims. | Walcott, 79, withdrew following an anonymous letter campaign reportedly detailing sexual harassment claims. |
| Padel, speaking at the Hay Festival of Literature, in Powys, said she revered Walcott's work and described him as "my senior colleague". | Padel, speaking at the Hay Festival of Literature, in Powys, said she revered Walcott's work and described him as "my senior colleague". |
| "When he pulled out I felt scooped out inside, I don't want other poets to be humiliated. I have apologised to the university," she said. | "When he pulled out I felt scooped out inside, I don't want other poets to be humiliated. I have apologised to the university," she said. |
| FROM THE WORLD AT ONE More from the World At One | |
| She added that she hoped the next Professor of Poetry would be a woman. | She added that she hoped the next Professor of Poetry would be a woman. |
| An Oxford University spokeswoman said they "respected" Padel's decision. | An Oxford University spokeswoman said they "respected" Padel's decision. |
| "This has been a difficult chapter for all concerned and a period of reflection may now be in order," she said. | "This has been a difficult chapter for all concerned and a period of reflection may now be in order," she said. |
| 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. | 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. | He described it as a "low and degrading" campaign. |
| Padel 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." | Padel 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." |
| It's deeply, deeply disappointing that things worked out this way Prof AC GraylingBirkbeck College | |
| 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." |
| 'Scurrilous campaign' | 'Scurrilous campaign' |
| 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. | 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." |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| Poet Michael Horowitz describes how media manipulation has infected the world of poetry | Poet Michael Horowitz describes how media manipulation has infected the world of poetry |