Tip-offs cause poet to quit

LONDON - The head of poetry at Oxford University has resigned after growing accusations that she had become involved in a smear campaign against one of her opponents for the prestigious position.

Ruth Padel was elected the first female Oxford professor of poetry earlier this month when her rival, Derek Walcott, withdrew from the race after a dossier detailing sexual harassment claims that were made against him in the early 1990s was sent anonymously to more than 200 Oxford academics.

Walcott, 78, who was born in St Lucia, accused his critics of engaging in "character assassination", while his supporters alleged that a dirty tricks campaign had been waged to make sure he was not elected to the post.

Initially Padel claimed she had "nothing to do with any behind-doors operations". But it later emerged that she had alerted at least two journalists to the accusations against Walcott.

Several academics subsequently called on her to resign. It is thought to be the first time anyone has resigned from the position since it was first introduced more than 300 years ago.

Padel said she would no longer take up the post: "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."

Padel maintained that she did not mean for Walcott to withdraw from the running.

"I genuinely believe I did nothing intentional that led to Derek Walcott's withdrawal from the election," she said. "I wish he had not pulled out. I did not engage in a smear campaign against him, but, 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."

Oxford will now have to restart the election process.

- INDEPENDENT