Ricken S. Patel, a Kennedy School of Government student, kicked off the march by emphasizing Cambridge's contribution.

"The Cambridge community, in passing this ordinance, has shown its conscience. Let's bring our conscience to Harvard University" he said.

To a variety of chants in both English and Spanish, carrying makeshift drums, and waving banners emblazoned with everything from the universal sign of anarchy to "String Theorists for a Living Wage," the marchers followed a slow pace.

Although the march attracted attention, there were no major mishaps and traffic was not disrupted. Approximately 20 Cambridge police officers on foot, bicycles and motorcycles kept the march from spilling into the road by standing at the edge and saying "Keep on the sidewalk" to wayward marchers.

The march took a minor detour in Quincy Square-to the surprise of the management of the Inn at Harvard-and a theater troupe called Class Act did a parody of the "Harvard University Administrative Drill Team."

Matt G. Borus, parodying an administrative leader, asked the other members to calculate the status of a family of four living off the average wages of two Harvard employees.

"How would you describe the condition of this family?" asked Borus.