ID cards used for livelihood

By Laura Pelner
Summer Reporter

Every student enrolled at Purdue gets a student identification card within their first week here and most find that it becomes their livelihood and access into many places around campus soon after they receive it.

A student ID card serves as a library card, an after hours access to the residence halls, a ticket to get meals in the halls and an access to the Recreational Sports Center. The card is also used to set up a career account and a password in the Purdue University Computing Centers (PUCC), and it is a photo ID for exams or as a means of identification. Lastly the card can be used in the Purdue Memorial Union for bowling and billiards and it is needed to access certain materials in some University laboratories.

In addition to all of that, students can establish a boiler express debit account, which can be used for goods and services at various points on campus, said Wayne Hilt, the card services manager.

With a boiler express account students can buy items from certain campus vending machines, the copy center in the Union, the mini marts in the residence halls and the store in the Stewart Center.

To establish a boiler express account a deposit of $25 is needed, and additional deposits of a minimum of $10 can be made.

Hilt said that some fraternities and sororities are now using the ID cards for entrance in to their facilities.

Getting a student ID is a quick process, explained Hilt.

They are made in room 130 of the Union. During the days on campus students simply need to go ask for one. If students wish to get them later, right before classes start in the fall, they need to go to room 130 with another photo ID (a license or passport) and a copy of their schedule.

Every student's first card is free, but after that replacements cost $20. If the card gets lost students simply need to go the card office in the Union and get a new one. Hilt emphasized that there is no penalty.

Hilt also said "if you and your card get separated give us a call and we can block use of it until you get to the office to get a new one."

If students think they will be able to find their cards, temporary replacements are available for $3 for three days. Hilt said that a high percentage of students do find their card later, so the replace option is a good one.

He also added that the top two places students and their cards get separated are the Recreational Sports Center and the dining halls when they are left on trays. Students should take extra care to remember their cards in these locations.