“For some reason, the way it was explained to us was that President Summers is not happy with Af-Am 10 and is trying to make it difficult for us to have take-home final,” said Jonathan M. Lee ’03, a student in the course.

But University Spokesperson Joe Wrinn said that although Summers has met with several professors in recent weeks to discuss the importance of combatting grade inflation, he has not in any way pressured Af-Am 10 to change its final.

“It’s categorically untrue that he’s trying to micro-manage the testing policies of any department, Afro-Am or otherwise,” Wrinn said.

Fletcher University Professor Cornel R. West ’74, the instructor of the course, also declined to comment about this matter.

“I have nothing to say about Brother Summers—I just wish him well,” he said.

Most students in the course contacted over the past week by The Crimson have expressed disappointment in the change, saying they feel a take-home exam would be more appropriate given the reading-intensive nature of the course.

“A take-home final is a better way of assessing your knowledge, especially in class like this where we have read something like 26 books,” said Aaliyah N. Williams ’02.

Yesterday marked the course’s last lecture of the semester.

—Staff writer Kate L. Rakoczy can be reached at rakoczy@fas.harvard.edu.