It would be reassuring to think of college as a completely safe place.
But with the frequency of students giving their names and Social Security numbers for identification purposes, identity theft could be running rampant on this campus.
Identity theft has been a problem at universities across the nation, including Indiana State University. So Ball State's decision to issue new identification cards and random identification numbers could help alleviate the fear of identity theft.
Students have until May 13 to get ahold of their new card, and they have many opportunities to do it. Cards are available at Bracken Library between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. through Friday. The remaining cards will be forwarded to the Registrar's Office, Lucina Hall room B-43.
When students get their new ID, they also must find their new BSU ID number at www.bsu.edu/webapps/MyBSUID. The new cards are effective May 13.
Many students might think that the last thing they need is to be responsible for another number. But the addition of a random ID number cuts down on how many times students use Social Security numbers for basic identification.
It was not easy for Ball State to revamp its technology to meet this student need, but it has. Regardless of any inconvenience, students should be thankful for the effort to protect their safety.
The time it takes a student to obtain the card and the new number is far less than the amount of time it takes to cancel credit cards, close bank accounts and obtain new forms of identification. All these efforts would be needed for a student to prove that his or her identity has been stolen.
Get the new card, learn the new number and look at this as a step toward combating identity theft.
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