The mystery fifth candidate for the role of Chancellor, who entered the contest just 15 minutes before the deadline for nominations, has this week revealed himself, quashing hopes that Bill Clinton might have made a late bid for the post. Philosopher and long time adversary of the University Andrew Malcolm revealed to Cherwell that he had applied in a "spirit of seriousness", amid national media speculation that the new candidature was nothing more than a "student prank".
However, Malcolm was forced to withdraw from the contest despite having the requisite number of nominators. Officials informed Malcolm that eight of his signatures had not "conferred", or been officially given, their Oxford degrees, thereby invalidating his bid. Malcolm is appealing to the University Registry, by entering the names of the eight graduates into a conferring ceremony, which would take place just before the election.
Malcolm is not hopeful that his appeal will be acknowledged, saying "it is puzzling and saddening to find this once-great university going to such extraordinary lengths to stifle free academic debate, especially at a time when several momentous questions for the country's higher education system are hotly in dispute."
Although not an Oxford graduate, Malcolm has been involved in a legal battle with the university for 17 years. His feud began when he sued the Oxford University Press for going back on an agreement to publish his book and has cost both participants about £50,000 in legal fees.