July 2001 — Lawrence H. Summers, an economist with a Ph.D. from Harvard, becomes the university's 27th president.

December 2001 — Professor and self-proclaimed theologian Cornel West '74 goes on leave after a confrontation with Summers. A distraught West declares that "The important thing is that the precious Harvard tradition is bigger than Summers, myself or any of us." Summers is criticized by the Faculty for acting too harshly. During the proceeding reading period, as students and faculty rush to the aide of West, a mysterious poster campaign pops up, with posters boasting such phrases as "GET UPPITY ON MASSA SUMMERS' PLANTATION!" and "Stuck-up people LOVE LARRY SUMMERS."Additionally, an anonymous petition supporting "brother West" is posted in Hilles library.

April 2002 — Cornel West leaves Harvard for Princeton. West reasons that if "you're going to make judgments about someone's scholarship, then you ought to read their work." Upset about Summers' criticism of the academic validity of his work in rap recording and other nuances of hip-hop culture, West responds "I said, 'My God, you don't talk this way to an assistant professor...let alone a University professor.'" West also labels Summers the "Ariel Sharon of higher education." The Crimson condemns the departure, praising West's "reputation as a deep-thinking and perspicacious author."

September 2002 — Summers criticizes a Faculty petition calling for divestment from Israel and subsequent student fundraising efforts, labeling them "anti-Semitic in their effect if not in their intent," adding "profoundly anti-Israel views are increasingly finding support in progressive intellectual communities." Winthrop House Master Paul D. Hanson is not impressed, insisting that the petition "is in no way a protest against the State of Israel, but against the Sharon government, the Bush government and their policies," adding "the same moral convictions that underlie my feelings against anti-Semitism underlie my position on the right of the Palestinians to their own land."

January 2005 — Summers makes his now infamous comment during a private luncheon at MIT, suggesting that innate differences may be to blame for fewer women in math and science. He also criticizes how much of a role discrimination plays in the gender gap. Many Faculty members express shock and outrage. The comments were particularly distressing for MIT biologist Nancy Hopkins '64, who was so upset that she reported becoming "physically ill" while in attendance. Other attendees, many female, are astounded by the negative reaction, with Lee Professor of Economics Claudia Goldin reporting that she "was pretty flummoxed" by the reaction to the speech, which, in her view, displayed "utter brilliance." Summers nevertheless apologizes, stating that he "was wrong to have spoken in a way that has resulted in an unintended signal of discouragment to talented girls and women."

March 2005 — The Faculty of Arts and Sciences passes a no-confidence motion on Summers' leadership by a margin of 218 to 185. Summers' supporters are few, yet vocal, with Winthrop Professor of History Stephan Thernstrom declaring "a victory for President Summers' critics will be a very significant blow to academic freedom in American higher education." Comments like this were too much for Professor of Comparative Literature Susan R. Suleiman, who fired back "The one thing that really pushes my buttons is when people try to paint every legitimate action as a form of political correctness." Students, staff, and alumni from the Coalition for an Anti-Sexist Harvard (CASH) are particularly vocal in their criticism of Summers, giving him a giant "report card" after the meeting, failing him in every category of leadership. Professor of the History of Science Everett I. Mendelsohn, declares after the meeting, "This is not theater, albeit it has its comic and tragic elements."

July 2005 — Harvard Corporation member Conrad K. Harper resigns saying the university's best interests would be served in Summers' stepping down.

January 2006 — Faculty of Arts and Sciences Dean William C. Kirby steps down, sparking outrage, although he has formerly been accused by Faculty members of being a lap dog to Summers. Faculty members accuse Summers of forcing Kirby out.

February 2006 — Summers is again confronted at a Faculty meeting, and several members suggest he step down. Former dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Peter T. Ellison, asserts he announced his resignation the year before because Summers "undermin[ed] the authority of a dean in front of others, [made] hollow statements of support, and denials that appear less than fully truthful".

Many faculty members not affiliated with the FAS are nevertheless outraged, with HLS Prof. Alan Dershowitz declaring the revolt an "an academic coup d'etat engineered by the hard left and stimulated by Summers' politically-incorrect statements, but then joined by an assortment of others—including some who had been dismissed and disempowered by Summers, some who didn't like his style, and a few well-intentioned people who didn't understand the damage they were doing to the University."

Summers, however, announces his resignation on February 21, citing a "clear sense of hostility." Students, faculty of graduate schools, and alumni turn out in droves to condemn the shameful tactics of the FAS.