Harvard announced a new review of faculty connections to Jeffrey Epstein after lawmakers released troves of documents that included correspondence involving former university president Lawrence Summers. The university said it is examining newly released material to determine what further actions may be warranted for individuals named in the records. In parallel, Summers announced he will step down from the OpenAI board and step back from public roles, saying he takes responsibility for maintaining communications with Epstein. OpenAI confirmed his resignation and expressed appreciation for his contributions. Summers’ retreat has already led several outside organizations to sever or pause affiliations and raised fresh questions about conflicts, governance and oversight at major research institutions. The developments are reverberating across higher education because they spotlight donor relationships, faculty conduct, and institutional review processes — issues boards, provosts and research offices must now reassess as universities handle reputational, legal and governance fallout.