Five Dollars for a Functioning ID? I Would Rather Spend That Money Elsewhere.

By Paul Eldert
ReporterAs many of you know by now, Longwood is outrageously charging students $5 to replace IDs with faded pictures. To quote the late Vince Lombardi, "What in the heck is going on out here?" Can Longwood really deny students a service that they have already paid for? Isn't that considered a breach of contract?

I was just as surprised as everyone, as I have been a victim to this ridiculous policy. My ID card has had some fading, as other cards have, since Longwood ID cards are not laminated like driver's licenses are. However, if my ID card still swipes just fine and I can supply a legally-valid photo ID (driver's license), why does it really matter? I live off campus, so I don't need access to enter any dormitory. The last time I checked, when I needed to print something out, the card reader and computer team didn't care that they couldn't see my picture clearly. So why does it really matter?

Theory number one would be as Cuba Gooding Junior's character in Jerry Maguire says, "Show me the money!" Why else would the combination of a valid photo ID and a swappable ID card not be good enough? I understand there are security issues involved, and that is fine. But why not make laminated cards? Why make cards that are going to lose all of their color if you leave it in a plastic holder? (On a side note: according to the Longwood ID Center Web page, you can purchase a plastic card holder from the center for $2.00).

I'm not the only student angry about this. "That ID that I have now was distributed to me last year," said senior Ryan Donnelly. "I work in the library, and I have to look at IDs every day. Some students have only been here for one or two semesters, and their IDs have already faded. Anyone who keeps their ID in their wallet.it seems to fade. Essentially, I think it's a big ploy to make a whole bunch of money off Longwood students [who] are already paying lots of money to get a good education. These smaller sorts of nickel and diming types of things I think are really unnecessary and a mistreatment of students. Because, while it is only $5 from students, if 2,000 students have to pay this, it turns into $10,000, which is serious, serious money, and I think that is a dishonest way of generating more revenue for the university."

For those of you who say that it's just $5, think again. Five bucks can get you five double cheeseburgers at McDonalds. It can get you one of Subway's "Five-dollar footlongs." At Taco Bell, five regular tacos come out to five bucks. It can get you the combination of a gallon of gas and a box of tissues. Think of all the Ramen you can eat for $5. There are many more useful things you can do with $5 than purchasing an ID that still reads just fine. As for photo ID, a driver's license seems to be accepted by all ABC vendors, so why should the Dining Hall be any different?

As a former cashier myself, I do feel sorry for the cashiers who have to force these rules. Whenever my boss would make a change in store policy that went against what the customers were used to, I had to catch the heat even though I had nothing to do with the decision. When Longwood began enforcing the ID policy I noticed several students complaining about it to the cashier, when really the complaints should have been directed towards the administration. So as a student body, I say complain to the people up top and let them know that this is simply unfair. Who knows, maybe you can save $5 out of it. I know as a broke college student, I could use the money for the dollar menu.