There’s been a lot of talk recently about an air of declining social excitement at Stanford. Daniel Novinson’s Mar. 6 article “Sixth Man Shortage” discussed some of the symptoms, mainly those related to athletic fandom, but struggles to describe any sort of cause. He makes some suggestions of a possible increase in “type-A” freshmen, and a changing attitude among the administration. Jeff Cooper countered in his Mar. 7 letter to the editor with the argument that every senior class complains this way, and that nothing seems to really change much. We disagree. Stanford is changing greatly.

This change has nothing to do with a different mix of freshman students. Stanford kids have always been nerdy, and it’s hard for admissions to screen out the fun so-called “troublemakers.” (One of the biggest troublemakers we know graduated last year with a Rhodes scholarship.) In fact, we applaud this year’s freshman class for trying their darndest to have fun despite it all, but something keeps getting in their way. Remember that capture the flag game they tried to organize the night before NSO? The one that was shut down?

This startling change started long before the current administration took power, with the ejection of Greek houses from campus. In the last 30 years roughly two dozen Greek organizations have been forced off campus and seen their houses seized. The next statement is going to get resistance from a campus that is now overwhelmingly anti-Greek: Fraternities and sororities are the foundation of Stanford’s social life. We throw the most and the best parties; we organize the best football tailgates; we rally the most folks to philanthropic events such as the recent ThinkBIG women’s conference; and we are among the top contributors to community service of all the residences on campus. And among the Greeks, the seven housed fraternities on campus bear the brunt of this Atlas’ burden of propping up Stanford’s social life. Is it any surprise that your parents have better stories about the time they spent here? When they were students here, they had more than one party option on a Friday night, cared about more than one sports team on Saturday. And it’s only getting worse.

What has happened to Full Moon on the Quad and Band Run? Events that only three years ago were mainly student-run are now smothered under University regulations, bright security lights and dozens of police. How much spirit or excitement can any person generate, no matter how guilt-free they may be, under bright lights and the withering gaze of a Man of the Law?

And what the heck happened with Tree selection this year? The Feb. 22 Daily article regarding Jack Cackler’s removal from Tree consideration claimed that the decision was made fully by the Band, and that the administration had nothing to do with it. But strong rumblings and rumors around campus indicate otherwise. But what exactly did Cackler do, anyway? He had managed to get a student population mired in midterms excited about being a part of something greater. For once, people sitting in dining halls were talking about something besides IHUM lectures.

What is there to do about this? Are we willing to sit back and say, “nothing is really changing that much,” as self-described “Grumpy Old Man” Cooper suggested in his Mar. 7 letter to the editor? Or can we as a student body do something to make our voices heard and take back the richness of our college experience? The administration’s current tactics may be hauling in the dough right now, with massive donations and ever-ballooning tuition and board bills — all the while keeping Stanford out of the police blotter — but they are creating a generation of unsatisfied students. If you ever get the chance to talk to John Arrillaga, who graduated in 1960, he has some really sick stories from his time on the Farm. But stop and think to yourself right now: is there anyone left among us with enough passion about this place to donate the next new stadium?

Josh Kuempel and Mark McClure are members of the Class of 2008.