It is praiseworthy enough that this year’s Senior Nights have faced few of the problems that publicly plagued the program last year. However, tonight’s scheduled ‘80s-themed bowling event shows that the planners are now growing from being simply successful executors to becoming innovators in keeping things interesting.

The change from the usual format (Class of ‘08 stampedes into a nearby bar or two) makes sense in the seventh week of the quarter. After the novelty of senior year has begun to wane, a slightly different activity is a welcome change for those who might be growing tired of the local bar scene.

In addition, the change gives recognition to the members of the senior class who don’t drink. One of the stated goals of calling the weekly event “Senior Night” instead of “Pub Night” was to make non-drinkers feel more welcome, as well as to assuage the fears of nervous parents and administrators. Alcohol is, and will remain, an integral part of Senior Night; after three years of being able to vote but not to buy a drink, it is natural that the seniors toast their new ability to imbibe legally. Those who choose not to exercise their right, however, will probably appreciate the occasional Thursday spent in a venue that features more activities for themselves than watching their friends hiccup over $10 drinks.

Having something to do other than just drinking will also facilitate socializing for all Senior Night attendees. Even liquid courage isn’t enough to get some students to break out of their shells or out of their cliques, but a designated activity — particularly a competitive activity, as we are all Stanford students — can unite strangers in a mutual quest for glory that will last until next Thursday. Whether students are rejoicing over strikes or commiserating over a deplorable series of gutter balls, they have a built-in topic of conversation beyond the standard verbal fare of “where-ya-livin’” and “how’d-midterms-go?”.

Further, bowling itself is a brilliantly cheesy activity, perfectly paired with the night’s theme and suggested costumes. Nola’s and the Old Pro, for example, are classic Senior Night destinations but are less than conducive to inducing students to dress silly in the spirit of class unity. Any Palo Alto bar is usually full of yuppie I-banking 20-somethings — in other words, the seniors in two years. Even the fun gets a little businesslike.

In contrast, college provides unique opportunities for absurd costumes and goofy behavior, opportunities that must be exploited while they exist. There is no doubt that some seniors inwardly mourn the job-hunting, thesis-writing, grad-school-applying seriousness that already occupies their lives. A Thursday night of big hair and pastel sport coats is the kind of ridiculous downtime that any upperclassman, harried by the specter of the imminent Real World, needs after midterms to take him or her back to the dreamlike days of freshman year, when dorm hallway parties would colorfully erupt out of carefree spontaneity.

And for those who love the bars, hate bowling, despise costumes, resent being born too late for the ‘70s, and can’t stand the mere thought of rented shoes — well, it’s only one night.