Several professors echoed that sentiment, referring to what they perceived as a toxic atmosphere at Harvard under Summers.

Seemingly no facet of Summers’ public history went unnoticed at yesterday’s meeting.

J. Lorand Matory, professor of anthropology and of African and African American studies, even mentioned the controversial memo Summers signed while chief economist at the World Bank in 1991.

The memo suggested moving pollution-producing industries from developed nations to what he called “under-polluted” third-world countries.

“Perhaps the third world is under-polluted,” Matory said sarcastically. “We should discuss it.”

Before facing the firing squad of faculty at 4 p.m. yesterday, Summers did not betray any unease that may have been brewing.

Not known for his punctuality, Summers arrived fifteen minutes early for the meeting after a short walk across the Yard from his office in Massachusetts Hall. Wearing a suit but no coat in yesterday’s temperate weather, Summers was accompanied by his chief of staff, Jason Solomon ’93-’95.

As he left University Hall nearly two hours later, looking worn after the barrage of criticism, Summers was accompanied back to his office by Elisa New, an English professor and his long-term girlfriend.

Summers canceled a planned study break at Pforzheimer House last night, but he made a brief appearance late yesterday at a student reception.

According to several of those in attendance, Summers did not discuss details of the Faculty meeting, saying only that he had just come from the “hot seat.”

-—William C. Marra and Sara E. Polsky contributed to the reporting of this story.

—Staff writer Zachary M. Seward can be reached at seward@fas.harvard.edu.