Carleton considers biometric readings for students

Erin Gurski, the Charlatan (Carleton University

OTTAWA (CUP) — Handprint scanners could soon replace student cards at Carleton University.

While initially expected to be installed this year, students will have to continue to carry their student cards for at least another year since the university postponed the installation of hand readers across campus.

Ed Kane, Carleton’s assistant vice-president of university services, suggested the issue might be revisited next September.

Previous discussions explored the possibility of installing biometric hand readers at both the athletics centre and the residence cafeteria.

The machines in both facilities would grant access to students who forgot their swipe cards.

The hand readers measure the subject’s hand and compare its size to a database that would include all the palm prints of registered individuals on campus.

The readers would not replace the traditional swipe cards, but would present an alternative to those who had forgotten or lost their cards.

According to Kane, the cost of the new system would be significant, including several thousand dollars for software, and $400 to $500 dollars for each reader.

Sarah Pantuso, a first-year public affairs student isn’t sure that the initiative is a good idea.

“It could be a good thing,” said Pantuso. “But the cost of it could be too much, and for what? To help the people who are unorganized?”

Chris Haas, a first-year environmental studies student who works at the athletics centre, also thinks the system is unnecessary.

He said everyone is supposed to carry their cards with them at all times for safety reasons, anyway.

“Putting in a system like that would have its biggest implication be the scanning of every student at the beginning to create the database that would store everyone’s identity,” Haas said.

“If campus security comes around, they just have to ask for cards,” he said. “With this system, they would need to carry around portable scanners which would cost a lot of money.”

But some students support the program and would like to see it implemented as soon as possible.

Tara Homeri, a first-year journalism student who lives in residence, said she thinks the idea is great.

“It’s a lot less [of a] hassle and takes less time [than carrying] a swipe card around, which is easily lost and expensive to replace,” she said. “Just using your handprint would be a lot simpler.”

According to Kane, the plan, if implemented, will likely be put in motion for September 2008 at the earliest.