"Certainly, it plays in their favor to be on the Harvard Square Advisory Board," Wolf says. "I don't think their presence is inappropriate, but the question is whether the other members of the committee are chosen in such a way so as to be favorable to the University."

The Harvard Square Advisory Board was created in the summer of 1986 to oversee the enforcement of a special Harvard Square zoning district limiting the height, placement and appearance of buildings within it more severely than elsewhere.

The committee of 13--including one Harvard representative and seven representatives of neighborhood associations, is one of several city panels whose approval is necessary for any major architectural change in the area.

"One out of 13 doesn't seem like an unfair influence," O'Neill contends.

Defending the University's presence on such local committees, O'Neill says that Harvard representatives are often called in for technical assistance on housing and real estate issues. For example, she said city officials invited Spiegelman to serve on the board of the Housing Trust Fund because of her experience and expertise in housing matters.

"Her contributions on that committee are positive," O'Neill says. "I don't see her presence as a detriment" to the city.

O'Neill adds that the University's representatives in city committees generally do not vote on issues affecting Harvard.

Another way the University can make its influence felt is by moving negotiations to its own territory. Turk says Harvard used this tactic in 1985 at a meeting of tenant activists, University lawyers and city officials. The activists, including Turk, charged Harvard Real Estate with neglecting the Craigie Arms apartment building.

That meeting, held at the Faculty Club, had the effect of making him "feel like an outsider at a city meeting," said Turk.

In such cases, Turk says "Harvard will use its facilities to change the terms" of debate. Meetings on Harvard property serve the tactical purpose of establishing that Harvard's legitimacy is "stronger and firmer" than the city's, he said. They also give the impression that the University is "trying to smooth things over with the city."

O'Neill says, however, that meetings on Harvard-owned property do not prejudice the discussion or deter participants from criticizing the University.

"I've had community meetings at the Faculty Club," O'Neill says. "I've never seen anyone constrained in these meetings."

O'Neill added that discussions on University grounds usually occur at the request of city officials. "We'll meet with anyone on anybody's turf," she says.

When the University lobbies on the local level, its representatives often work through individual talks with City Councillors. Less often, the lobbyists ask academic experts to testify at Council meetings.

Although she says, "I can't say I feel pressure" from University lobbyists, Vice Mayor Alice K. Wolf acknowledges that "there has been very strong lobbying" on a number of issues.