From his decision to randomize the housing assignments in his first year, to his support of the revised Ad Board procedure for peer dispute cases last year, Lewis has not shied away from tackling controversial or touchy issues.

All the while, Lewis has consolidated his power in the College, emphasizing regular reviews for House masters and senior tutors, hiring loyal University Hall administrators and ruling the Ad Board with a firm hand.

But after two years of clashes with University President Lawrence H. Summers, Lewis has plummeted from being the most powerful man in the College to a spurned administrator.

The “Charlemagne” who has transformed the College with his aggressive attitude and focus on improving undergraduate life ultimately fell to a president with an equally stubborn—and very different—view of the College.

While Lewis’ departure from University Hall will probably not trigger a collapse, the position he spent the past eight years crafting will indisputedly cease to exist.

A man who left an indelible impression on the College, Lewis’ departure will be mourned by some, and noticed by all.

When Harry Met Larry

While Kirby and Summers insist Lewis’ departure was merely part of the plan to restructure, several administrators say the president and Lewis began to clash—both in style and policy—almost from the moment Summers took office in 2001.

As Lewis’ direct superior, Kirby was the one to fire Lewis, but Assistant Dean of the College Karen E. Avery ’87 echoes several administrators’ sentiments by likening Kirby to Summers’ puppet—and saying the firing was a product of Summers’ behind-the-scenes maneuvering.

“It seemed clear that the decisions were coming from on high,” Avery says. “I got the sense that someone was just pulling the strings.”

According to one well-informed source, Summers made it clear to Kirby that he would not be unhappy if Lewis stepped down.

Both Summers and Lewis have reputations for being strong-willed and hands-on—which created problems when they had to collaborate.

Scott O. Bradner, Lewis’ friend and a senior technical consultant for University Information Systems, similarly describes Lewis’ leadership style.

“If you disagree with Harry, you better be ready to support yourself,” Bradner says. “He will challenge you.”

One professor who asked not to be named says he expects Lewis and Summers to work well together because of their common propensity to be “intensely analytical.”