CONTACT INTERACTION EXPLANATION OF HERA EVENTS AND SU(3)(C)XSU(2)(L)XU(1)(Y) INVARIANCE

We reexamine the contact interaction hypothesis for excess high-Q(2) e vents seen at HERA in e(+)p --> e(+)X scattering. We consider the most general structure of contact interactions insisting on SU(3)(C) x SU( 2)(L) x U(1)(Y) invariance. Apart from constraints for e(+)e(-) --> q (q) over bar, Drell-Yan and atomic parity violation experiments, we fi nd stringent constraints from neutrino deep inelastic data, provided o ne assumes lepton universality. A possible choice of contact terms tha t escape present bounds is still possible.