"Harvard Square still continues to be a niche for moms-and-pops," said Kristin T. Sudholz, executive director of the Harvard Square Business Association, an organization also dedicated to preserving the character of the Square.

According to Sudholz, just as many chain stores as moms-and-pops close down. "Harvard Square breaks all the rules," she said.

Sudholz blamed some of the problems of Harvard Square on the community members themselves.

"If people hear we're becoming a mall, they won't come here," Sudholz said. She said that this negative publicity is what hurts the moms-and-pops.

Besides the two members of the Green Party, only one other student was present at the meeting.

The student, Undergraduate Council representative Justin D. Lerer '99, addressed the crowd. He said that although he agreed with the concerns of the Green party "I'm going to respectfully disagree with everything else."

"The Square should be preserved, but it's not colonial Williamsburg," said Lerer, who is a Crimson editor. "Harvard Square used to have cows and horses. Change can be useful."

Lerer said that he is in favor of having chain stores in the Square. "I would like someplace to eat when I'm writing a paper at four in the morning," he said. "Chain stores are a symbol of quality that consumers have grown to like."

"The fast-food ordinance is something which really hurts students," Lerer said. "Students need something that's fast, something that's cheap. Students will be here forever."

Lerer finished his statement by addressing the speakers directly. "I think you will eventually stifle Harvard Square and alienate the students who are here," he said.

The speakers agreed that--whatever their vision for the future of Harvard Square--community members should work together to make Harvard Square a better place.

"The best thing we can do is to maintain the issue," Sudholz said. "I don't buy into the pessimistic theory that we're all doomed in Harvard Square. Where there's a will there's a way.