This semester, Northeastern University took it upon themselves to issue new student ID's with the latest card access technology and to include phone numbers for local law enforcement and mental health resources. Every student this semester is expecting to adopt these cards and replace the old ones. While such features and additions are necessary to make Northeastern a safer and healthier place to learn, the University also took steps in making the ID's an eyesore without consent of the student body.

The old cards, while not all that eye-catching, did utilize more card space, minimizing white space and had an unique look to them. The new cards being issued make the old cards look fancier while embarrassing us as a Northeastern student. Due to COVID restrictions and rules in place, IDs are expected to be visible all times while on campus. Why would we, the student body, want to wear something around our necks that is not something to be proud of wearing? 

The best way to address these issues would be to halt all distribution of the new cards and let the student body help create a new design. For a university that increased tuition by nearly 3% during a pandemic, why should the paying student body not have say in what we wear and what represents the university across the country? IDs are an essential part of what makes a person a college student at a prestigious school. Why not showcase something we are proud of?