The number of Harvard undergraduates actively involved in the Massachusetts races this fall is small. The total for Democrats and Republicans combined is about 40.

But Harvard students' efforts are important for the campaigns, says Aaron C. Yeater, the college outreach coordinator for the Roosevelt campaign.

"The roles of the volunteers are varied, from internships to campaign work," he says. "In the campaign itself, they do everything from the grunt work of making phone calls, stuffing letters and posting signs to doing issue preparation and other substantial work."

The relatively small number of students involved in the campaigns has not kept excitement out of the campus contest, however.

The clashes after Tuesday's debate were typical of some college students' actions in this year's races, which seem to be heating up at Harvard.

On October 12, a Romney rally outside University Hall was counter-protested by three sign-bearing Democrats. At exactly the same time, National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL) members rallied for Kennedy at Lehman Hall.

And as soon as tempers had cooled after Tuesday's debate, open warfare erupted again at a Romney rally yesterday in the Square.

Picketers for both Kennedy and Romney had taken up positions side by side on Mass. Ave across from the Coop and were trying to attract pedestrians, waving signs and offering pamphlets and stickers.

A man walked up to the then peacefully coexisting groups and asked, "Who should I vote for if I'm a bigot?"

"Romney!" the Democrats replied immediately.

But Mitt Romney had at least one vocal defender in the crowd: his 23-year-old son Matthew S. Romney.

In a tone of forced calm, Matthew Romney called for specific evidence of the candidate's alleged racism. The Democrats brought up Mitt Romney's welfare proposals in return, and a lengthy debate followed.

After that interchange, both groups began to send delegations across the street, diffusing the tension and lowering direct competition for the attention of passers-by.

Students Don't Care

But even while the faithful campaigners are battling it out in the trenches, much of Harvard is paying little attention to the local contests, activists say.