Professor of History James T. Kloppenberg, a specialist in American social thought, says that money donations are one of the most effortless and least time-straining ways to support a candidate or political party--a big draw for busy scholars.

"I guess when time is a scarce resource and you also have the money, [monetary donations] are what people often tend to do," he said.

Johnson says that political candidate supporters' donations of money can be as effective as donations of time.

"If you want the candidate of your choice elected, then anything you can do to support them is better than nothing at all," she says.

But Agassiz Professor of Biological Oceanography in the Museum of Comparative Zoology James T. McCarthy says that he disagrees that Harvard professors and administrators are any busier than other professionals and workers.

"Why would Harvard professors have any less time to donate to political campaigns than engineers or lawyers or doctors?" he says. "And for that matter, there is no difference between Harvard University faculty and that of any other educational institution."

Van Vleck Professor of Pure and Natural Physics Paul C. Martin says that time should not be a consideration in political support and participation.

"If people feel strongly about an issue or a candidate, they should contribute whether they have the time or not," he says.