At Tufts, your student ID can get you a meal at Carmichael, buy your books at the bookstore, and check out a book from Tisch. So what happens when someone else gets a hold of your ID?
It depends. The University uses social security numbers as ID numbers for most US residents that enroll at Tufts. However, if your social security number is on your card, you might have reason to be concerned about who is getting access to your personal information and how it might be used.
According to the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse (www.privacyrights.org), a nonprofit consumer education, research, and advocacy program, identity theft is increasing to epidemic proportions. When someone has access to your social security number and wants to use it fraudulently, it's easy for him to gain access to your bank account, credit accounts, and other sources of personal information.
So why do Tufts and other universities use the social security number as the student identification number?
Social security numbers were first issued in 1936 and were meant for use exclusively within Social Security programs. Because the numbers facilitate access and retrieval of information, however, their use has become widespread - from employee files to medical records to student IDs.
"I've never lost my ID, but it makes me uncomfortable to give strangers access to my ID number," senior Michelle Kahn said. "I don't like to order food from MOPS because I don't think it's a good idea to just give out my social security number."
Students do have an alternative to displaying their social security number on their ID. In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, Tufts policy states that students who prefer not to use their social security number may request that the Registrar's Office assign another identification number. But not many students take advantage of this option.
"I lost mine freshman year and I was a little worried about someone else getting it and using it," senior Jennifer Sapp said. "The old IDs used to have our pictures laminated on them and they were easy to reproduce, but the police made me a new one for ten bucks and deactivated the old one. I didn't really consider the consequences of someone using my social security number."
Most students approach the Tufts University Police Department (TUPD) when they lose their IDs. The police then issue a new copy of the ID to the student, and the original is deactivated. Within the Tufts community, a student with a missing ID can feel relatively assured that their ID will not be misused in Tufts facilities.
"There's a lost card code so the [register] reader would read just the new number," Sergeant Paul Riley said.
According to Riley, the "lost card code" is kept within the magnetic strip of the ID. The card is difficult to replicate because of its magnetic encoding and because the student's photograph is printed on the ID. However, while the register will not recognize the original ID once a new one is activated, the student ID number displayed on the card remains the same.
"There has been no input as to any problems with this [version of the] ID being stolen and used," Riley said.
Students are satisfied with how the TUPD handled their lost IDs.
"Tufts police were really good when I lost my ID sophomore year. I called them, and I said that I lost my ID, and they were very efficient in giving me a new one and deactivating the old one," senior Katherine Levitt said.
Most students are not aware that their social security number can be used as identification in conjunction with their name even on the phone. MOPS vendors accept the student ID by phone and usually don't check for the student ID upon delivery.
The student ID number also allows access to multiple arenas within Tufts and outside Tufts. In many cases, students could question the actual necessity of giving out their ID number. For instance, students sign up for club meetings and events using their ID numbers. Students may also add points to their ID card using their ID number by telephone and get access to their transcript or grades online. There are also employment and medical forms that require social security or ID numbers.
Although many schools, including University of Iowa and Boston University assign the social security number as the student ID number, others use a different policy. MIT changed its policy in 1995, opting for the more secure option of randomized numbers. Harvard also opts for not using the social security number.
