Mississippi State cracks down on ID use at sporting events
15 October, 2014
category: Privilege Control
Mississippi Sate University is takes its football seriously, in particular its student admissions. The university sent out a mass email last week reminding students of the proper usage of their ID cards come game day.
In addition to reminding students of policy guidelines, the email also warned students that those caught violating the policy would face disciplinary action by the dean of students office.
In a report by The Reflector, Mississippi State’s student newspaper, students use their cards for admission to sporting events on campus and the tickets are non-transferrable. Per the university’s ticket guidelines, students cannot let other students or non-students use their ID.
The Reflector’s report states that students wishing to transfer their game ticket simply present their ID and the name and NetID of the student who is to receive the ticket. The student receiving the transferred ticket then picks up their ticket in person and presents their valid MSU student ID at the will call window on game day.
While MSU students must swipe their ID cards at the stadium gates upon entry, this is the first year that Mississippi State athletics department has used an online portal for issuing student tickets.
At Mississippi State, it seems that complicated processes and a stricter enforcement of the student ID policy has made it difficult for students to sell, gift or rent their tickets. It’s a problem that has led to some students simply exchanging ID cards rather than actual paper tickets.
For a number of reasons, this is an unacceptable alternative to a legitimate ticket transfer, as a student ID card can act as everything from a room key to a meal ticket for many students. Simply handing an ID card to another person seems a simple solution, but in doing so it also introduces security concerns.
