Why do guys seem to be getting more and more cowardly?

There's a guy I see around in my place of study. There was definitely an attraction from the beginning. Yet he won't come over and properly chat? In ALL my past attachments, dates and so on, i've always been the one who broke the ice. Seems like these days guys have developed an idea that if they initiate anything with eye contact their work is done. Any opinions fellas?