Editorial | Winnowing options

Looking for a bite after your party or in the middle of your all-nighter? Sadly, on Penn's campus, you will soon be out of luck.

Philly Diner will soon be closing at 2 a.m. on weekends and 1 a.m. on weekdays. According to the University, this was a joint decision made by the owners and the University in light of a shooting last month near Philly Diner.

The timing and the decision confuse us. Over the years, Philly Diner has been no stranger to occasional violence - a man was killed inside the establishment in 2005 and a student was shot outside in 2006 - and neither has the rest of the area. Lately, though, violent crime has been down in the Penn patrol zone. And unlike other local businesses that have experienced late-night violence in the area, such as Koko Bongo or Club Wizzards, Philly Diner is not inherently dangerous as strip clubs or nightclubs may be and provides a service to students - quick, cheap food at any hour of the day or night - that wasn't replicated at any of the other locations.

Now, with Philly Diner's earlier hours, the only eateries left open are fast-food places ill-suited for large groups or students who want to study while grabbing a bite. At 2 a.m., most students at Penn are still awake. Registered parties end at that time and few privately hosted parties end earlier. After a night out, most students need to wind down. And students spending all night studying need a place to refuel in the middle of the night.

With many businesses closing earlier because of financial concerns, we're saddened to see Philly Diner turn off its "24 hours" light.

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