Harvard University exists not only as an institution of teaching and research but also as an employer, landlord and developer.

Because the University has many roles, Harvard has a stake in the outcome of many of this year's nine ballot questions.

University and city officials say the University has a particularly strong stake in the outcome of Question 9, a proposal which, if approved, would abolish rent control.

"Certainly Question 9 has an impact," says Happy Green, director of community relations. "A question like that rent control question is clearly something that Harvard, owning rent control property, would be associated with."

Harvard currently owns 709 units of rent-controlled housing, or approximately five percent of all rent-controlled housing in Cambridge, says Susan K. Keller, vice president for residential real estate at Harvard Real Estate.

If Question 9 passes, Harvard will no longer face local rent control restrictions. This means that Harvard Real Estate, as a landlord, will be free to raise rents in its rent-controlled housing units. This also means that Harvard Real Estate will no longer need to approach the local rent control board in order to receive approval for capital improvements on property.

"Harvard owns 709 units of housing that are currently subject to the restrictions of rent control, which means they could not be used for other purposes; that when we make capital improvements in those buildings there's a long delay in getting money back into that building," says Kathy A. Spiegelman, director of physical planning.

But Spiegelman says the University has chosen neither to support nor oppose Question 9.

Keller says her agency will not raise rents immediately, if the initiative petition passes.

"I think that we have a commitment to our tenants that are there," she says. "We are a prudent landlord that takes our commitment to our tenants seriously."

Regardless of whether the initiative passes, Keller says Harvard Real Estate and the city of Cambridge will be holding discussions over the next few months on the future of low-cost housing.

"We're in a 'wait and see' and 'work with the city' attitude," she says. "This is an opportunity for reform."

And Spiegelman says that it is difficult to predict the specific long-term impact if rent control were to be abolished.

"As a large property owner, any change in regulations that affect property are going to affect Harvard," she says. "Some of those changes might be positive, some might be negative."

Another issue which may affect students is Question 5, which proposes to reform Massachusetts' "Blue Laws," by allowing retail stores to open on Sunday mornings and national holidays.

Currently, only convenience stores and video rental stores may open before noon on Sundays.