Oxford University fails to escape disasters and scandal (7)
I believe the answer is:
outrage
'scandal' is the definition.
(scandal can mean an occasion for public outrage)
'oxford university fails to escape disasters' is the wordplay.
'oxford university' becomes 'OU'.
'fails to' becomes 'dies' (I've seen this in other clues).
'escape' indicates named letters should be taken away.
'disasters' becomes 'tragedies' ('tragedy' can be a synonym of 'disaster').
'tragedies' with 'dies' removed is 'trage'.
'ou'+'trage'='OUTRAGE'
'and' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for outrage that I've seen before include "Incense and offend" , "Shocking event" , "furious reaction" , "Shock horror!" , "Profound indignation" .)