Editor's Note: The Twilight of Stanford Share: Stanford is known for a certain unique ethos that is dying, through a combination of not only carelessness but concerted effort on the part of University administrators. Stanfordâs reputation, which attracted me and countless others to the University, offers students a stake in the birthplace of Silicon Valley, the worldâs epicenter of creativity and risk. Stanford students are less elitist than our East Coast peers, and more well-rounded: Stanford offers amenities, like Greek life and competitive athletic teams, absent in earlier iterations of the prestigious American university. The universityâs unstructured curriculum expects its students to either succeed at the highest level in their own arenas, or create entirely new spheres for success. Stanford revels in nonconformity and experimentation. It was through these characteristics that Stanford gained its prestige.