World | Oxford University Oxford Poetry Prof Resigns First female to nab top post reverses earlier decision amid smear campaign accusations By Jess Kilby Posted May 25, 2009 7:17 PM CDT Copied British poet Ruth Padel, great-great-granddaughter of Charles Darwin, resigned her post as Oxford Professor of Poetry today amid accusations she ran a smear campaign against a rival for the job. (AP Photo / Sang Tan) The first woman to hold one of the UK’s top poetry posts has reversed direction and announced her resignation amid accusations that she ran a smear campaign against a rival, the Telegraph reports. Ruth Padel stepped down as the Oxford Professor of Poetry today but maintained she acted in “good faith” in telling reporters about a book detailing sexual harassment accusations against Nobel laureate Derek Walcott. Read These Next Formal dining rooms may soon be a thing of the past. She wanted her widowed dad to find love. Just not with this woman. Luddites will rejoice at this return to analog. Evangeline Lilly: I suffered brain damage in fall. Report an error