A few parties, apathy and silence were the ways Harvard students greeted the landslide re-election of President Nixon last night.

Harvard Square's eateries were emptier than usual; its bars were fuller.

The most festive spot on the campus was the Lowell House Junior Common Room, where 40 members of the Harvard Republican Club sedately drank beer as two television sets blared out the unsurprising results.

"I guess you'd have to say this is one of our biggest nights," John D. Preston '73, the club's president, said. Preston, a native of Allen, Ky., said he had not done much campaigning for Nixon's reelection , but was pleased nonetheless.

Across the campus from the Republican festivities, eight students sat in the Freshman Union watching the only University televisions open to the 1200 Yard residents.

A few feet from the T.V. two freshmen stood playing pinball. They had stopped watching television at 7 p.m.

"We're going to watch some more T.V. later." Amy Wilentz '76 said as she hit the right flipper button.

"Yeah, there are some interesting Congressional races," her partner. James Gleick '76 explained.

In Wigglesworth Hall. Charles W. Holness '76 of Teaneck, N.J., sat reading Time magazine. He didn't turn his radio on.

In Quincy House, Eliot M. Gelwan '74 of Forest Hills. N.Y., put the finishing touches on a paper for Humanities 118. "Myths of Creation." The paper is not due until Thursday.

As the clock pushed on toward 10 p.m. Gelwan said he had not heard may results. "There's a new Grateful Dead coming out tomorrow," he said with a smile.

Nicholas G. Harris '74 spent the hours from 7 to 10 p.m. listening to tapes for German A is the Language Laboratory is Boylston Hall.

"I watched T.V. for about 15 minutes after dinner red Nixon had a projected landslide," Harris said. Three works before, he cast his vote for George McGovern by absentee ballot.

One group of less solemn souls paraded loudly down Mt. Auburn St. singing "Happy Birthday," to a student they carried on their shoulders.