EDITORIAL: Fix the card before issuing it

The new PennCard has created many problems that U. officials should have addressed earlier. While the long lines into dormitories and dining halls irritate many students, it is important nonetheless that all PennCards are swiped and identification verified. Anyone who has a PennCard shouldn't be waved through turnstiles at residence halls -- particularly during move-in week -- because of the potential security breaches. And while no student wants to turn down a free meal, it is not acceptable for Dining Services to give meals to anyone who flashes a PennCard because the magnetic strip isn't functioning properly. Also, PennCard officials only compounded the problems by failing to collect and deactivate old PennCards. At CUPID, students were given the option to keep their PennCards for nostalgia purposes. If PennCard officials hadn't issued the new cards before determining whether or not they would work effectively, many of the ensuing problems could have been avoided. Spectaguards must swipe cards, or if the card is not activated, they must verify the identification of the card holder. And the card readers must be programmed to accept the new PennCards. Rather than denying that a problem exists, PennCard officials should work diligently to solve the glitches that have arisen.