Clinton's visit fires rumours

Former United States president Bill Clinton was due to open the Rothermere American Institute at Oxford University today amid mounting speculation that he will give lectures there.

Alan Ryan, director of the institute and warden of New College, Oxford, said: "It would be wonderful to have Clinton give some lectures here. But, although he has expressed an interest, we have not yet talked formally."

There are rumours that President Clinton will run for the post of university chancellor should Lord Jenkins of Hillhead vacate it. There is also speculation that President Clinton's daughter, Chelsea, will apply for a postgraduate course in politics and international relations at University College, Oxford, where her father was a Rhodes scholar from 1968 to 1970.

The Rothermere Institute aims to attract postdoctoral research students from around the world. It will house the Vere Harms-worth Library, which has documents on the American war of independence and slavery.

• President Clinton this week visited Ulster University's Magee College campus, where he inaugurated the W. J. Clinton scholarship to enable disadvantaged pupils to take up UU degree courses.