Liberal City Councillors in Cambridge are generally backed by the Cambridge Civic Association, while conservatives, such as Walsh, run as Independents. But Harvard-bashing is not limited to either side.

Traditionally, such criticisms have been the domain of Mayor Alfred E. Vellucci, whose creative attacks have often left Harvard officials' heads spinning.

In his 32-year tenure on the City Council, Vellucci has proposed annexing Harvard Yard by eminent domain and paving it over, forcing the University to secede from the city and establishing a community garden on the overpass between the Yard and the Science Center.

Walsh says his proposals are of a different nature than Vellucci's.

"The mayor is very critical in general," he says. "I'm much more critical on specific issues-payments in lieu of taxes... areas in which Harvard can help."

"I don't think anybody can steal a march on Al Vellucci," says William Noble, a leader of the Cambridge Tenants Union. "He's sort of a unique person in the city."

'Very Receptive'

While Walsh may be critical of the University in public, Harvard's O'Neill says he doesn't handle controversies like an adversary.

"Whenever I have called him to express the University's point of view he's been very receptive," she says. "We have a very good working relationship."

Fellow Independent Councillor Walter J. Sullivan Jr. says Walsh's concerns are no different than those of the Council's other Independents.

However, Sullivan says Walsh's experience as a lawyer gives him expertise that the other Councillors lack.

"He just came up with some new things to hit them with," says Sullivan.

But a few city residents are skeptical of Walsh's recent activities.

"I think he's just using the issue opportunistically-just trying to get publicity," says Noble. "For a number of the Independents, there's been a tradition of Harvard-bashing."