The Mason Card Office is located in the basement of Student Union Building 1 on the Fairfax Campus. (Audrey Hibdon / Fourth Estate)

Mason students confused after deactivation of their physical IDs

BY AUDREY HIBDON, STAFF WRITER

On Sept. 7, some Mason students received an email from the Mason Card Office stating their physical Mason ID was deactivated. 

Since July 2023, all Mason students have had the choice to use either a physical ID or a digital ID. Mason Mobile IDs have always been optional, but promoted by the university as an easier way to access the benefits of a Mason Student ID.  

Services include meal swipes, residence hall entry, Patriot Perks, library checkout and use as an acceptable form of identification in Virginia elections. Both forms of Mason ID also list several emergency numbers, such as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. 

However, on Sept. 2, several students and staff were contacted by the Mason Card Office and asked to select a preferred ID format by Sept. 6. According to Aliya Rinaldi, Associate Director of Marketing and Communications for George Mason’s Auxiliary and Business Services, if a decision was not made, the physical ID was deactivated Sept. 7 and the Mobile ID remained active.  

“During a routine audit of Mason ID records, the Mason Card Office identified a limited number of instances in which an individual had both a physical Mason ID and a Mobile ID active,” Rinaldi wrote in an email. 

When a Mason Mobile ID is set up with the Atrium Campus Connect App, Rinaldi said George Mason policy states the physical Mason ID will be immediately deactivated for security. 

“The [Mason Card Office] immediately reviewed the affected accounts and contacted the individuals involved,” said Rinaldi. “This was an isolated, one-time issue.”  

Freshmen students Tianna Goode and Amelia Nemceff both have Mobile IDs. When deciding which ID format to choose, Nemceff said the Mobile ID “was the only one I knew of” and was unaware of a physical Mason ID option when activating her ID. 

Both Goode and Nemceff said they have not had an issue with their Mobile ID. 

Goode emphasized that you need enough storage on your phone for the Atrium app but that having a Mason ID has been essential for getting into events. 

“If I had to choose, I’d stick with the mobile ID, but I’d want to have both,” Goode said. “But you can only have one at a time. They should make it so you can have both.”  

Rinaldi clarified community members’ concerns. “At this time, there is no planned end-of-service date for physical Mason IDs … students and employees will not be required to surrender or replace their physical ID simply because Mobile ID is available.” 

If a student or staff member believes their physical ID was deactivated by mistake, they should contact the Mason Card Office for a review.