He added that "only three faculty and virtually no students have expressed any concern to me about him delivering the Snyder Lecture."

Tufts Dean of Undergraduate Education James M. Glaser said that the former president will be a "provocative and exciting" speaker.

"We’re very interested in what Dr. Summers has to say about undergraduate education, his role in the major reforms going on at Harvard right now," Glaser said. "I think those took some particular courage and some vision."

Summers said in an interview last month that he is working on writings that may eventually turn into a book on higher education. He was recently added to the list of clients of Wylie Agency, a literary publishing firm, according to the company’s Web site.

Tufts students said yesterday that they welcomed the decision to invite Summers.

Scott B. Silverman, a freshman, said that he was excited to attend the lecture and that "anything controversial will attract students."

Alea D. Stein, a sophomore, also said she supports the decision to invite Summers and condemned the "fuss" people are making as "ridiculous."

"Our community is not one to shy away from something just because it might be a heated issue at the moment," Stein said. "If anything, people would want him to come speak."

—Staff writer Claire M. Guehenno can be reached at guehenno@fas.harvard.edu.