For students, the swipe of a CUNYCard ID is supposed to guarantee easy, immediate entrance into Baruch College. However, once a student misplaces or forgets their ID, words like “nice” and “easy” become foreign for many of the security officers. The process of getting a new $10 ID can be intimidating enough, but nothing compares to feeling like a stranger in your own school.

Even though increased security measures are crucial, students should not be hindered by these annoying barriers.

The closed campus atmosphere that Baruch is known for compared to other CUNY schools can be positive for enrolled students but can also represent a huge roadblock in making students feel welcome on campus.

Having an ID is the first step to a safe and accessible campus, but heightened security when it comes to ID cards can be suffocating for students who are just trying to get from building to building.

All Baruch buildings require a proper ID for entrance. But swiping and moving through turnstiles can be a hassle — especially if the ID scanners don’t function properly. During class rush hours, for instance, students may have to try to pass their IDs through the turnstiles multiple times.

The process of entering a Baruch building is further prolonged with a forgotten ID, as victims of a forgotten ID must remember and punch in their CUNY EMPLID or social security number to enter.

The student has to tell the public safety officers near the turnstiles that they don’t have their IDs, during which the security guards can be judgmental and sarcastic. Even a simple case of a club member stepping outside the turnstiles to pick up pizzas and then immediately coming back in can garner protests from security officers. While the security officers are aiming to generate a positive and safe environment, their attitude toward students forgetting their ID is mostly negative.

While Baruch is a commuter school, its students are constantly on the run and have little time to swipe their ID because of a broken system or type in their EMPLID because they forgot it at home.

Security should be more understanding when it comes to these students. Though public safety officers provide a valuable resource to the community and help improve safety, sometimes they do so at the cost of student experience on campus. After all, CUNY’s vow to commit to excellence is reflective in the atmosphere each college cultivates.