Effective this year, the mysterious 17-digit number on your university ID you’ve always wondered about is finally going to be put to good use. In order to better protect students’ identity, the Office of the Registrar will no longer use your social security number in its dealings.

We applaud the university in taking this proactive approach to protect students’ privacy.

No longer will a student have to give out their social security number when taking a test or handing in an assignment. And while this does mean an extra number to remember, the precaution will be worth it in the long run.

Eliminating the use of social security numbers is something a lot of states, including Iowa, have decided to do on drivers’ licenses as an extra precaution.

The last thing any ISU student needs is to find out their identity has been stolen, a la “The Net.” While this scenario is most unlikely, you’re usually better safe than sorry.

The university is finally putting that number to good use, in an intelligent step to safeguard students against fraud and identity theft.

editorialboard: Andrea Hauser, Tim Paluch, Michelle Kann, Zach Calef, Omar Tesdell