Syracuse raises ID prices, criticism ensues
01 October, 2014
category: Contactless
Syracuse University did not consider its entire student body when making the decision to add a new, more expensive technology feature to Syracuse University ID cards. At least that’s the general consensus around campus.
The price hike is the result of an added contactless chip that will enable students and faculty to enter locked doors without having to take out their ID cards. But the new technology has been met with criticism, as there will only be two locations on campus that will use this technology.
According to a report from The Daily Orange, the new technology can only be used in Dineen Hall and the Green Data Center, with a majority of students – whether they require access to the two buildings in question or not – being affected by the increased ID cost in the even that they have to replace their card. Now, critics of the new card amendment are claiming the university should update all of its buildings so the technology is used universally, or alternatively, it should not require all students pay a greater price for replacement ID cards.
Following the addition of the new chip, students are required to pay $25 for their first replacement ID, and $40 for any replacements after that – $10 and $15 increases from last year, respectively.
Some believe that if the technology were being applied to central, high-traffic locations on campus – Syracuse’s student center or library for example – requiring all students to have new ID cards would be more logical.
The report goes on to stress that in order to rationalize the increased price of ID cards, university officials should have had concrete goals for implementing the technology across all buildings on campus where the increased access control is needed. A timeline for updating a wider swathe of buildings is yet to be announced.
Nevertheless, the price hike has some one the Syracuse campus crying foul, as the additional charge punishes students who lose their cards, while the reason for the increase may not even apply to them.
Updating an entire campus to a new reader technology is a costly and lengthy process. But should Syracuse consider the entirety of its student population when making these decisions, or are these just necessary growing pains?
