Like it or not, Boston University is still under the shadow of John Silber.

From the academic standards and practices to the lack of commitment to the athletic programs, BU continues to operate in a manner that could have been dictated by Silber himself.

The fiasco with Dan Goldin showed that, if needed, Silber could still exercise his influence within the BU community. More than two years later, Silber is no longer chancellor and the university has a new president, but many of the trustees who sided with Silber during his reign remain.

It would be oversimplifying the situation to say Silber was able to take down Goldin, but it is not completely untrue. As the Boston Globe reported in October of 2003, Silber not only looked to continue to influence the decisions made by the university but also did not relish Goldin’s desire to reduce his power.

While Silber’s time in office is officially over, many of the most powerful people on BU’s campus closely identify with his interests. Just as the bureaucracy of Washington, D.C. remains a constant, regardless of the changes in political climate, so too have many of Silber’s appointees retained their posts on campus.

Silber was the driving force behind many of the positive changes BU has seen in the past few decades. The tremendous amount of research and respect the university now commands in the academic community is staggering. When compared to the pre-Silber area, it is humbling. SAT scores of incoming freshmen have increased, class rankings have improved and certain programs in the university have become a destination.

That being said, there is a reason many were eager for Silber to move on. From the start of his presidency Silber drew many critics for his icy disposition and the absolute power with which he ran the university. Political science professor emeritus and renowned writer Howard Zinn was quoted as saying Silber “assumed an iron hand over everything.” Student protests were not uncommon early in his presidency, as many disagreed with university codes, particularly the Guest Policy.

Begun under scrutiny and protest, this policy has survived numerous attempts to change and abolish any and every part of it. If there is an aspect of BU that perfectly signifies the continued influence of Silber, this is it. From the first day as a freshman to the last day of senior year, it is a hard and fast rule of BU.

It’s this policy that best illustrates the main problem with the continuing influence of Silber. A policy that most would consider antiquated continues to hamper students in ways which may not have been considered when it was first drafted.

From student groups to study partners, the absurdity that BU students are not only restricted from one another’s dorms but also from many university facilities continues to stand as a barrier to a more fulfilling student life.

This is the main problem with the continuation of the Silber ideals; while they may have been created with the best intentions, the only thing being affected is the ability of students to have a complete collegiate experience.

Considering the lack of safety on BU’s campus in previous decades, the Guest Policy probably seemed like a reasonable idea in respect to student security. It allowed BU to develop from a small-time commuter school to a major academic institution, a place where students want to come and live throughout the year. But times have changed.

Today, the very policies that arguably led to the blossoming of BU are the factors consistently alienating students. This is reflected in the poor alumni donations and the general disinterest of the student body in anything BU-centered.

But now the university can seize upon the opportunity for Silber’s influence to come full circle. With the current administration at least considering discussing things such as the Guest Policy, BU and its students may be left with the advantages Silber brought to the university and none of the disadvantages.

So the time has come. It’s time for the university to realize that abiding by Silber’s ideals will only limit BU. Students and student life must be the driving force behind BU for it to truly become a top-notch institution. Progress has been made in the form of many pro-student administrators and increased funding for student groups. Unfortunately, these changes can only impact so many students.

To help BU move forward, sweeping changes, arguably on the scale of those instituted by Silber in the first place, will be necessary. Otherwise, progress will be limited to as far as the current obsolete policies can take the university.