2008 Woodie Awards
IDs get new look over summer
Michelle Leblanc
Issue date: 9/15/04 Section: Feature
- Page 1 of 1
One of the most stressful days here at Assumption College (other than final exams) is move-in and registration day. When all students want to do is say hi to friends and get settled into their dorm rooms, they are bombarded with tons of information, most of it new information about changes that have been made over the summer.
One change students could not miss this year was the addition of the new ID cards that they received on the first day back. These new cards do not seem very different from the old ones; hence many students might find themselves asking, "What's the deal with this new piece of plastic?"
Although the new ID's look very similar to the old ones, they are actually much improved. One of the biggest changes about the new cards is that no personal information is stored on the card itself, but rather in a database that the school keeps. This database is the same type that other departments, such as the Registrar, use to access information about students. Before, anyone who had a magnetic reader could scan an Assumption ID and receive personal information such as a student's social security number or date of birth.
The social security numbers have been replaced by a five-digit student ID number and a randomly assigned set of numbers that corresponds with the bar code on the card.
"The new system is much safer and provides more protection," said Public Safety Officer Lieutenant Keith Hough. The pictures on the ID are clearer because they have been changed from an analog picture to a digital picture.
Also, students will notice "UNDERGRAD" printed on the bottom left corner of the card, distinguishing different members of the Assumption community from one another
The new Assumption College ID's can be used at a wide variety of places on campus including: Taylor Dining Hall and Charlie's for meal plans, d'Alzon Library for checking out materials, and the Plourde Recreation Center for gym access. The cards can also be used for campus cash, vending, laundry, and the college readership newspaper dispensers, which are located in the lobby of Taylor Dining Hall and in the Hagan Campus Center near the ATM machine.
As of right now, the newspaper dispensers do not require students to insert their cards because their need to be reconfigured to the new ID's. However Dean of Students Robert Ravenelle promised, "They should be working correctly in the next few weeks."
Overall, most AC students seem to like the new cards.
"They look a lot more professional and the picture is nicer too," said Junior Michelle Lusher.
Initially, some problems did occur as Senior Jenn Beauchamp experienced.
"I wish that we received more information about them when we got them," said Beauchamp. "I wasn't aware that we needed to activate them. Years before we never had to re-activate them."
Some kinks did have to be worked out in the new system, but now the cards should be working at all locations on campus.
Make sure that you hold on to your brand new ID's because a new one will cost you $15.
Junior
Organizational Communications
One change students could not miss this year was the addition of the new ID cards that they received on the first day back. These new cards do not seem very different from the old ones; hence many students might find themselves asking, "What's the deal with this new piece of plastic?"
Although the new ID's look very similar to the old ones, they are actually much improved. One of the biggest changes about the new cards is that no personal information is stored on the card itself, but rather in a database that the school keeps. This database is the same type that other departments, such as the Registrar, use to access information about students. Before, anyone who had a magnetic reader could scan an Assumption ID and receive personal information such as a student's social security number or date of birth.
The social security numbers have been replaced by a five-digit student ID number and a randomly assigned set of numbers that corresponds with the bar code on the card.
"The new system is much safer and provides more protection," said Public Safety Officer Lieutenant Keith Hough. The pictures on the ID are clearer because they have been changed from an analog picture to a digital picture.
Also, students will notice "UNDERGRAD" printed on the bottom left corner of the card, distinguishing different members of the Assumption community from one another
The new Assumption College ID's can be used at a wide variety of places on campus including: Taylor Dining Hall and Charlie's for meal plans, d'Alzon Library for checking out materials, and the Plourde Recreation Center for gym access. The cards can also be used for campus cash, vending, laundry, and the college readership newspaper dispensers, which are located in the lobby of Taylor Dining Hall and in the Hagan Campus Center near the ATM machine.
As of right now, the newspaper dispensers do not require students to insert their cards because their need to be reconfigured to the new ID's. However Dean of Students Robert Ravenelle promised, "They should be working correctly in the next few weeks."
Overall, most AC students seem to like the new cards.
"They look a lot more professional and the picture is nicer too," said Junior Michelle Lusher.
Initially, some problems did occur as Senior Jenn Beauchamp experienced.
"I wish that we received more information about them when we got them," said Beauchamp. "I wasn't aware that we needed to activate them. Years before we never had to re-activate them."
Some kinks did have to be worked out in the new system, but now the cards should be working at all locations on campus.
Make sure that you hold on to your brand new ID's because a new one will cost you $15.
Junior
Organizational Communications