In an op-ed published in The Boston Globe, the three presidents expressed concern about the possible influence of Summers' statements. "Speculation that 'innate differences' may be a significant cause for the underrepresentation of women in science and engineering may rejuvenate old myths and reinforce negative stereotypes and biases," the professors wrote, according to The Chronicle.
President of Princeton Shirley Tilghman told The Daily Princetonian, Princeton's student newspaper, that the presidents' statement was important because it came from scientists. "We felt a statement from three presidents who were also scientists might be helpful in framing the national debate around why it is important that women participate in the scientific enterprise," she told The Princetonian.
Summers recently met with members of his own faculty, according to The Chronicle. The meeting, was amicable, a considerable change from the previous session at which several professors sharply and strongly attacked Summers for his comments.
During the meeting, Summers addressed comments he made at an economics conference in late January. Summers reminded the faculty that they all share a stake in Harvard's future. He said he would be more careful about what he says in the future. "I will seek to listen more-and more carefully-and to temper my words and actions in ways that convey respect and help us to work more harmoniously," he said during the meeting, according to The Chronicle. "I am determined to set a different tone."
While the faculty remains divided on their feelings about Summers, they felt more able to express as a wider range of opinions. "Ruth R. Wisse, a professor of Yiddish literature, said the meeting was very different from last week's faculty meeting, at which she was the only professor to voice support for Mr. Summers," according to The Chronicle. "At that meeting, professors said Mr. Summers ruled by intimidation and that faculty members did not feel comfortable voicing their opinions for fear of reprisal. This time, said Ms. Wisse, a variety of viewpoints were expressed."
Some students went to the building where the meeting took place to show support for Summers, while others went to protest his comments. "Dozens of students showed up outside the 450-seat lecture hall where the Faculty of Arts and Sciences meeting took place. Some of the students called for Mr. Summers's resignation, while others distributed literature in support of the president," reported The Chronicle.
While several faculty members have been asking for Summers' resignation, the Harvard Corporation, the seven-member board which has the power to remove Summers, publicly supported the president.