Okay, so I lied. Last week wasn't my last column. And this may not be either. (I’m applying to be one for Vol. 227.) Still, at least I have some statistics as a result of my request.

Apparently I don’t have seven readers. I have six. Yes that’s right, in response to my request for all my readers to e-mail me I collected a sextet of messages in my inbox.

While a little disappointing, it’s not particularly surprising. After all, with so many other exciting things to do in Palo Alto, who has time to read the paper?

Of course, if anybody could be expected to be a regular reader it would be a member of The Daily’s staff. So for reassurance I did some field research.

The Daily banquet (though I’m not sure the word "banquet" is appropriate if there's no whole roast pig sitting on the table, with apple in mouth) took place on Friday. Interesting experience.

It was the first time I found myself interacting (and I use the word loosely) with undergraduates since I got to the Farm. Unfortunately, it appears that this is not a skill that perseveres under the steady assault of graduate school on one's social graces.

Needless to say, after such a feeble performance I've been wondering where the charm and ease have gone. I see two possible solutions.

One, either we never had it in the first place or two, grad school has somehow leeched from us the ability to interact. I’m leaning towards the second option. And I think I have an answer.

Itís all about open doors. You see, back in the halcyon days of youth, when we had neither a B nor an A to put after our names we would not shut ourselves off from the world.

Remember how you could walk along the halls of your undergrad dorm and glance into every room. Remember how people would say hello when they were walking past. Remember how every door was propped open.

Now, however, it’s like living in a prison. Albeit a friendly, cooperative prison, but a prison all the same. Walk through the corridor of one of studios or the EV tower blocks and every door is shut. Hardly a sound is being made. It’s a perpetual state of lockdown.

Actually, it's much worse than that. At least in jail you don’t have a choice. Here at Stanford, though, it’s a self-imposed incarceration. Everybody chooses to trap themselves in their own little bubble.

Of course one could point out that the same could be said of the real world. After all, if you walk down the back streets of Palo Alto the houses don't welcome you with open entryways.

However, we don't live in the real world. We live on a university campus. We go to classes. We pretend to be poor. We hold impractical and unfeasible political views. In short, we're students. And as students, we need a new door policy.

The Graduate Student Council spends a lot of time creating ever more inventive (and tedious) events in order to stave off the impression that life here is a little dull and also in order to facilitate socialising.

This obviously fails, so instead I suggest the following new idea. Doorstops. Give every grad student a doorstop and watch the people talk.

In fact, I’m declaring this week "Open Door Week." Whenever you're at home from now until Sunday prop your door open (it does occur to me that given the data on my readership this may not be a widespread phenomenon, but I live in hope).

Since it may take some time for the doorstop rollout to take place let me suggest a (temporary) homemade version. Just fold up your copy of The Daily and wedge it under the door — you see how versatile the paper can be.

Open doors aren't enough by themselves though. We need interaction as well. Remember, an unfilled doorframe is an invitation to stop in and say hello. Spread the love.

There are, of course, some downsides with this brilliant plan. Occasionally someone will get upset at your choice of music / cooking / late night drinking game and complain. But really that's part of the fun — after all, if they're complaining, at least they're talking to you.

Unsure of how best to fold the paper for use as a doorstop? Don't e-mail, come by to Rains 218, Apt. 209 instead. The door will be open.