Despite his detachment from the radical campuspolitics rampant at Harvard, Barrett says thebackdrop of political and social tumult concernedhis family.
"My mother fluctuated from emotional pride tofear for the very survival of my soul," Barrettsays.
Barrett often talked to his family and visitedhis home in Reading, Massachusetts. As a result,his roommates say, he did not have a very activesocial life.
"He kept up the home standard when that was notthe rage," Lo says. "He just did what was right."
Lo says Barrett's steady romantic relationshipwas also quite abnormal in those rambunctiousyears.
"He had one girlfriend," Lo says. "That was notthe rage either."
Siktberg, who calls Barrett "very serious,"says he is surprised that Barrett did not marryhis college girlfriend, who was also his highschool sweetheart.
"He was truly devoted to his girlfriend,"Siktberg says. "He struck me as the type who had alife-long bond."
All of Barrett's friendsand roommates agreethat this year's Democratic candidate did notfollow the Harvard student stereotype of the era.
"Mike was open, ambitious and had lots ofenergy." Powers says. "But he wasn't a classiccampus operator type guy."