Lawrence Summers, 2005 News

president of Harvard University, set off a storm of criticism in academia when he suggested at an economic conference in January that innate differences between men and women might explain why there are fewer women than men at the top levels in science and math. Summers apologized, saying the comment “did not serve our institution well.” The controversy also ignited growing faculty discontent with Summers's autocratic management style. In March, the faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard voted that they “lacked confidence” in his leadership. In May, Summers announced that Harvard would spend $50 million over the next 10 years to recruit and promote more women scientists and minority faculty.


2005 People in the News