Columbia University ID Center

Card-Swipe Problem with Alfred Lerner Hall Access

The card readers at the entrances of Lerner (both the gate at the Broadway entrance and the turnstiles at the campus entrance) have three indicator lights. They represent the following:

• Valid

This will light green if you have been granted the access privilege, and the turnstile or gate will unlock. Sometimes there might be a slight delay between swiping the card and having the indicator light illuminate. If the Valid light illuminates and the turnstile or gate does not unlock, it does not mean that your card does not work. Please see the hospitality desk for more assistance if you continue to have problems.

Please note: there is a reuse restriction placed on access to prevent more than one person gaining access from the same ID card. Hence, if the card swipe is successful, the reader will not allow that card to be swiped again for 9 minutes.

• Denied

This will light red if you have not been granted the access privilege into Lerner. Please visit the Alfred Lerner Hall website to see if you are eligible for swipe access into Lerner. If you are eligible, and/or if you have been granted swipe access and are still denied entry, please go to the ID Center at 204 Kent during regular business hours to have the problem corrected.

• Re-swipe

The yellow light comes on if there is a physical problem with your card. It could be due to a damaged, dirty, or incorrectly encoded magnetic stripe. You may try to clean off the magnetic strip with a little rubbing alcohol and a soft cloth. If that doesn't solve the problem, you will need to go to the ID Center to have it fixed. If you have to have your Columbia Card replaced, there is a $15 fee to replace both damaged and lost Columbia Cards.