LONDON: Nobel literature laureate Derek Walcott has withdrawn from the contest for a prestigious position at Oxford University after anonymous letters criticizing him were sent to professors.
Oxford University confirmed the 79-year-old Walcott withdrew from the contest to appoint a Professor of Poetry.
British newspapers reported that the letters made reference to an allegation of sexual harassment made against the St. Lucia-born poet by a former student in the 1980s.
The anonymous letters included references from the book ``The Lecherous Professor: Sexual Harassment on Campus,'' by Billie Wright Dziech and Linda Weiner, which details the allegation made by a Harvard student, according to the London Evening Standard newspaper.
Walcott said in an interview published in the newspaper on Tuesday that he would not comment on the sexual harassment claims.
``What happened 20 years ago, I have never commented upon and have never given my side of what happened. That will continue to be the case,'' he said.
The poet added that he was disappointed ``low tactics'' had been used in the election.
Walcott's rivals for the five-year post were Ruth Padel and Arvind Mehrotra. A vote by academics and graduates is expected on Saturday.
TOI
Oxford University confirmed the 79-year-old Walcott withdrew from the contest to appoint a Professor of Poetry.
British newspapers reported that the letters made reference to an allegation of sexual harassment made against the St. Lucia-born poet by a former student in the 1980s.
The anonymous letters included references from the book ``The Lecherous Professor: Sexual Harassment on Campus,'' by Billie Wright Dziech and Linda Weiner, which details the allegation made by a Harvard student, according to the London Evening Standard newspaper.
Walcott said in an interview published in the newspaper on Tuesday that he would not comment on the sexual harassment claims.
``What happened 20 years ago, I have never commented upon and have never given my side of what happened. That will continue to be the case,'' he said.
The poet added that he was disappointed ``low tactics'' had been used in the election.
Walcott's rivals for the five-year post were Ruth Padel and Arvind Mehrotra. A vote by academics and graduates is expected on Saturday.
TOI
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