"Harvard is much more sensitive and aware of what the community is, partly because the community has forced them to be," Leslie says. "It's much harder for Harvard to get away with doing whatever it wants."

Cambridge has set up a number of laws designed to restrain the University from trampling on city interests. For example, a zoning law now prevents Harvard from converting residential space in the city for University use.

Malcolm L. Kaufman, a member of the Cambridge Tenants Union, campares the University to a dog that the city needed years of legislation to house-break.

"They obey laws, but you have to impose laws, on them", Kaufman says. "You can't leave it to their sense of doing their own thing. They're a business. If you take the limits off, they'll go crazy."

A Low Point

In 1969, city and state police used billy clubs to crack student heads and break up the occupation of University Hall.

That marked an all-time low in relations between Cambridge and Harvard, according to Reeves.

So in the aftermath of that conflict, President Derek C. Bok created the office of government, community a vehicle to facilitate communication with the city.

Now, partly as a result of this office, University officials insist all is well between Cambridge and its largest landowner.

"Relations have gotten better in recent years," Corlette says. "We try to touch base with our neighbors before making a change."

Reeves, who meets periodically with Rudenstine, says friendliness is fine, but more concrete outreach by Harvard is needed.

And the mayor says Corlette's office has not always been helpful.

"I think [Harvard-Cambridge relations] have drastically improved," Reeves says. "But the University has not, in government and community affairs, been as effective as it could be."

Part of the problem was that for the past 18 months, Harvard did not have a permanent vice president for government, community and public affairs.

And when the University finally named one, it tapped James Rowe '73. Some say the appointment of Rowe, a Washington insider,demonstrates that Harvard is more concerned withusing the public affairs office for lobbyinggovernment than maintaining relations withCambridge.