“I’d give him a ‘10’ on effort, but only a ‘1’ on talent,” Melissa A. Collins ’08 said.

Others were more forgiving.

“He’s not a great dancer, but he was a Cabinet member, so he doesn’t need to be,” said Rebecca Brocato ’08.

Summers may be among the jet-set crowd in Washington and Cambridge, but he’s still a little rough around the edges when it comes to partying.

Dressed casually in slacks and a black sweater, Summers munched on a holiday cookie, causing several students to notice the crumbs cascading down the front of his shirt.

Summers also ate nachos and cheese, with a side of his staple drink, Diet Coke.

In an interview yesterday, Summers said that he goes to great lengths in order to make a good impression on the freshmen.

“I prepare for this event each year,” he said, noting that his three kids help keep him in touch with the younger crowd.

But Summers confessed that there are still some gaps in his education.

“I have never heard of the Bee Gees,” he said after “Stayin’ Alive” played. “Is that bad?”

He also scoffed at the freshmen for their timidity on the floor.

“The Class of 2007 was much more enthusiastic about dancing than you guys,” Summers said in his address to the crowd early in the evening.

Summers even took some time off the dance floor to sign dollar bills for several freshmen.

Nwosu deemed the event a complete success, highlighting her dance with the University president.

“It was the most fun I’ve ever had on a Thursday night,” she said. “And it’s much better than writing papers.”

—Staff writer Daniel J. T. Schuker can be reached at dschuker@fas.harvard.edu

—Staff writer Lauren A. E. Schuker can be reached at schuker@fas.harvard.edu.