Bobcat Card System: Are we too dependent on our cards?

Dear Editor,

I am a little worried about the Bobcat Card system. Yesterday I went to the library because I needed to make some copies for class, and the copy machine did not work. The sign said that the Bobcat Card swipe machine was not working, and since that is the only way we can make copies, the whole copy machine was obsolete. On top of that, the machine in the library that puts money on our cards was out of order.

Are we relying too heavily on the Bobcat Card? The card is designed to be an all-inclusive card that can be used to buy coffee at Books and Brew and gain entry into resident halls plus do laundry and check out books. But what happens if the card malfunctions? The university has a lot riding on a little card and if the complex computer network that upholds the card crashes then we are screwed. No entry into our residence halls, no laundry, no copies, no check out of books and movies at the library.

I think the card is a good idea; I am just worried that we have too much riding on it. Why can’t we still pay for copies the old fashioned way by dropping ten cents into the machine? There is nothing wrong with being able to use the Bobcat Card for lots of things, but I think there should be an

alternative way to enter buildings and make copies if the card should collapse.

Just a thought!
Sincerely,

Lauren Ingram

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Sep 23 2005. Filed under Opinion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry