JOHN KENNETH Galbraith tells the story of a drunken student who plunged to his death from a Winthrop House suite in the 1930s. Evidently such incidents are of inordinate concern to Harvard housemasters, who last week took what might be the first step toward bringing back the good-old-days of curfews.

Thousands of college students who will flock to Cambridge this weekend for the Head of the Charles, the world's largest crew regatta, won't be welcomed guests this year. Following the lead of local police, the Masters of the nine river houses agreed last week to tighten security during the Head of the Charles, which a Harvard crew coach said this week is often marred by "drunken stumblebums."

Specifically, the authorities-that-be have decided to close the house gates and to require all who enter to present Harvard ID or to be in the company of someone so blessed as to have one. Harvard Police will be on hand to card not for beer, but for beds. Mather House has even asked students to host no more than one guest each.

IT'S HARD to believe that the average student pays almost $18,000 a year to have his right to accommodate guests restricted without having a say in the decision. Does Harvard have any real right to prevent students from housing guests in rooms rented for $300 a month? Would the Masters like it if the landlord of an apartment they rented stood outside their door and refused to let them bring in more than one guest?

Besides legal questions, the Masters' actions reflect an arrogance and indifference toward undergraduates that is characteristic of House life. In formulating their Head policy, the Masters did not seek input from those directly affected--the students. Instead they relied on their own preferences, which probably shy from loud music and bountiful kegs.

The Masters' unilateral decision to close the House gates and to card for IDs ought to be strongly opposed by the Undergraduate Council and the House Committees--the student body's supposed representatives. Unfortunately the council hasn't lodged any such complaint.

Without a student perspective, the attempt to control the Head of the Charles has taken the form of an over-reaction to a good time. It's certainly not a thoughtful effort to discourage rowdiness. Will carding students at the House gates really control the following day's giant party along the banks of the Charles?

The only thing carding will accomplish is the suffocation of Harvard's non-too-healthy social life. Most undergraduates agree that social activities here suffer in comparison to other schools--even MIT. True, the recent actions of the House Masters reflect their concern for financial liabilities that might arise from an injury at a party. But they just aren't concerned enough with other undergraduate concerns--like social life.

In limiting the guests who help create some of Harvard's few memorable parties the University makes it difficulat for students here to enjoy themselves. And the University shouldn't.