Who will be the next Oxford Professor of Poetry?

Who will replace Christopher Ricks as Oxford Professor of Poetry, said to be second in prestige to poet laureate?  Elections will be held on May 16, in spite of protests from those who are still reeling from the shock of Derek Walcott's withdrawal, due to a smear campaign.  Peter McDonald feels that the remaining choice, between Ruth Padel and Arvind Mehrotra is too limited for the vote.

James Fenton, "The hounding of a Nobel poet has shamed Oxford," London Evening Standard (May 15, 2009).

Alison Flood, "Oxford refuses calls to postpone poetry professor election," Guardian (May 13, 2009).

Mary Fitzgerald, "Should Derek Walcott have been Oxford poetry professor?" Guardian (May 12, 2009).

Olivia Cole, "Nobel winner quits Oxford poetry race over sex claims," London Evening Standard (May 12, 2009).

Alison Flood, "Derek Walcott joins race to become Oxford professor of poetry," Guardian (March 16, 2009).

Nicholas Wroe, "Bringing it all back home" (about Christopher Ricks) Guardian (January 29, 2005).

The Guardian's articles on the topic "Oxford Professor of Poetry" (2009).

"Poetry is not beautiful," says Peter McDonald

What do you think about this:  "Poetry is beautiful, but science is what really matters"? Professor Peter Atkins and Dr. Peter McDonald fight it out on-line at Oxford's Hilary 2009, moderated by Professor Sally SHuttleworth.

See:  http://www.ox.ac.uk/oxford_debates.

Ruth Padel at South Bank Center February 18th

Ruth Padel will be reading from Darwin: A Life in Poems (2009) on Wednesday February 18, 2009 at 7:45 p.m.

Tickets from South Bank Centre (www.southbankcentre.co.uk).

Meanwhile, there is a Facebook group "Can we find 200,000 by Feb 12 to wish Darwin a happy 200th birthday?" and Peter McDonald is involved in a debate at Oxford:  "Poetry is beautiful, but science is what really matters," (Hilary 2009).