Clinton returns to Uni
FORMER US PRESIDENT Bill Clinton returned to his old university this week. On Friday Mr Clinton opened the Rothermere American Institute, designed to promote and improve academic understanding and research into American culture.
Earlier in the day he held a lunch for Rhodes Scholars, having been one himself at University College between 1968 and 1970. On Saturday evening he dined with New College's Warden and Director of the American Institute, Professor Alan Ryan. He was also spotted jogging in University Parks and addressed crowds in Oxford before departing to continue his international tour.
During the course of the visit Mr Clinton remarked: "I love Oxford. I spent some of the happiest years of my life here." It also became apparent that he is interested in teaching and lecturing at the university, following remarks made to Rhodes Scholars and journalists on different occasions.
The Oxford Student spoke to Colm Singleton, a Rhodes Scholar who attended the American Institute opening, lunch and Clinton's speech. He described Clinton as "totally charismatic with a strong presence", adding that "he knew how to work the crowd."
"He spoke about the role he thinks the American Institute should have in improving UK-US relations, about globalisation and the need to balance expanding trade with social development and education. He stressed how easy and important it is to promote three key issues: the environment, education and health care."
Singleton described Clinton's audience as packed with professors and notable figures such as the US ambassador. According to him "Clinton shook hands with everyone, he was able to engage with each person. I have nothing bad to say about him."
Alan Ryan, Director of the American Institute, recounted a story from when Clinton was a student at Oxford who failed to turn up for a tutorial, adding that he was "glad to see that it hadn't affected either of our careers!" Ryan described the opening as "a cause for celebration on many fronts", adding that "the Institute offers a unique intellectual experience for its scholars and visitors."
In the evening, Clinton arrived with Chelsea at New College, surrounded by an entourage of police motorcycles and cars. Although the crowd of students were held back by barriers and university police, the Clintons waved and spoke to people before disappearing into New's hall for dinner. Nell Knox, who was waitressing, reported that "Chelsea had a cold and kept asking for cups of tea during the meal."
Steve, part of the security team escorting the Clintons, told the Oxford Student that the FBI had visited Oxford two weeks prior to Clinton's arrival to track every place that the former president would go. Mansfield's library was thus closed owing to the possibility of shooting at Clinton during the visit. At the end of the dinner the Clintons took a long time to emerge from the hall, whilst they shook hands with all the serving staff. Steve, impatient to leave New, commented: "Oh come on, he's probably been getting sloshed over dinner. He's pissed, watch him hold the handrail on the stairs!"
Chelsea spent Friday morning at Oriel with senior academics and Dr Catto, the Senior Dean, before repeating the performance at University College, her father's old college.
When asked by eager students at New on Friday evening whether she would be studying in Oxford, she appeared non-committal, saying, "I don't know yet" according to Liz Devine. However, the following day The Times ran a story entitled "Chelsea to follow father to Oxford", confirming that she had had an interview for an MPhil in History on Friday. One of her interviewers was quoted as saying "She's very bright."
Furthermore, Rhodes Scholars who attended Mr Clinton's speech reported him as saying that "hopefully Chelsea will be joining you next year", which had developed into a definite positive statement according to students who heard him speak on Saturday morning. According to a Merton undergraduate, Bill Clinton was asked whether he would be visiting Oxford more often in the future, to which he replied "yes", citing Chelsea as one of the reasons. However, the national papers are still in dispute, with one predicting that security will be too big a hurdle to overcome.
1st Jun 2001