Editorial | Dining after dark
Penn Dining shouldn't cut back on late-night food options
· October 9, 2008, 5:00 am
Got the late-night munchies?
Too bad.
Stores underneath 1920 Commons - including Subway, Starbucks, and the C3 convenience store - are now closing at 9:30 p.m. instead of midnight.
That leaves very few options for students hungry after 9:30 p.m., which in college-time, isn't very late at all. During the week, almost no Penn Dining establishments are open after that time. Some places, like Jamba Juice, even close as early as 6 p.m.
Luckily, most students either dump meal plans or choose smaller options by their sophomore year. But the change is especially unfortunate for freshmen, who are forced to purchase a full meal plan.
Administrators claim that the stores don't see much traffic after 9:30, but students used the area under Commons for studying during midterms and finals. The location was also convenient for those looking for a quick bite to eat or some coffee.
Dining officials should reverse course and keep at least one venue under 1920 Commons - like Starbucks - open until midnight. The University could also allow students to use Dining Dollars in the high-rise dorm cafes, which are usually open later.
Either way, College students need late-night food options. Penn Dining can't shut down after dark.




Comments (1)
Michael J. McFadden
December 31, 1969, 7:00 pm
Flag this comment
Ahh wellll.... too bad. Before they banned smoking for students in these places, they were a very popular venue for late night studying over coffees or simply hanging out and socializing. Too bad. The smokers got kicked to the sidewalks and they and their friends tend not to hang out as much late at night studying or socializing. But hey, better no place at all to go to than one where someone might be smoking, right? Michael J. McFadden The unabashedly possibly biased author of "Dissecting Antismokers' Brains"
Comments are closed for this item.