No ID’s, No Entry

By Estefano Torres Obtain your Student ID and there will be little issue when arriving on camp us ! Photo by Estefano Torres Editor

Housatonic is now more fully opening its doors for more students to return to campus after almost two years of online learning! While public health mandates continue to exist, this does not take away from the urge of finally abandoning electronic screens at home and once again stepping foot onto the courtyard.

Now there would be reason to believe that a majority of students have already made appearances at HCC in-person after its re-opening. . . only to be denied entry with the single-word question: “ID?”

How foolish must you feel! Since when were ID’s actually this relevant, or even relevant at all on-campus? WHEN?!

“Student ID’s are very important in providing identification as a registered student but now more than ever as it is one of the tools we are using for our COVID safety protocols,” said Mario Pierce, Associate

Dean of Campus Operations.

Many students have most likely not obtained their student id’s or hardly ever use them due to not understanding their importance. Well, for starters, if you wish to gain access to books and other resources at the bookstore or library, student id’s are required! If you wish to enter the parking garage, it is best you have your student id! If you wish to enter Beacon or Lafayette Hall, have your student id’s ready to be scanned for entry!

Pierce explains that students must scan in and out of HCC using the barcode on the back of the ID’s they obtain, and that visitors receive a guest pass.

“In most cases [visitors] sign in with their ID when they first enter and receive a guest pass for the day,” he adds.

An additional purpose of a student id is that it identifies you as a student of Housatonic, and in case of any situation that occurs, have it in possession. Student id’s absolutely DO NOT mean a driver’s license, business card, or any other identification. Another ID is encouraged, but if you wish to be granted access onto campus and to resources, Pierce explains that HCC student id’s assist the college with contact tracing, or identifying any HCC members who have been in contact with other people potentially infected with COVID-19.

So go on! If you need to obtain your ID, the Public Safety Offices located in both Lafayette and Beacon Hall are the places to go, and there is also a registration form via the Housatonic website.

Associate Dean Pierce explains that ID’s may have an even bigger significance later on: “In the future, we hope the ID’s can also be used for other enhanced public safety initiatives such as building access control.”

This being said, if you already have a student id, DO NOT forget it . . . you will need it!