The Committee on the Student Life Initiative at Dartmouth College has released a 50-page proposal designed to dramatically change the focus of students' social lives.

Introduced on Jan. 10, the initiative recommends stricter standards for co-ed, fraternity and sorority (CFS) organizations and alcohol on campus, including an end to the groups' pledges period. The committee has also called for a "cluster"-based housing system--similar to Harvard's Houses--with increased common spaces for students.

Student response to the proposals has been mild compared to the mass outrage on the Hanover, N.H. campus last fall, when the crackdown on Greek-centered social life began.

"Overall, I think that the intentions behind [the initiative] are good,"

said Dartmouth sophomore Elizabeth M. Carroll. "The general idea is supposedly to improve social life and general atmosphere at Dartmouth, and I don't fault that intention."

Dartmouth has long had an "animal house" reputation given the prevalence of CFS-affiliated students and parties on campus. Currently, there are 28 CFS organizations at Dartmouth, and 43 percent of students are CFS-affiliated.

Last year, Dartmouth announced that it was aiming to decrease the Greek presence on campus, but because of student opposition, the new initiative calls for the transition to be made gradually.

The proposal therefore recommends prohibiting the formation of any new CFS groups and imposing a strict new set of standards on those already in existence.