Discuss “Keep our Social Security numbers secure”

In high school, most of us didn’t even know our Social Security numbers, and those of us who did were instructed to keep those precious nine digits under wraps. In college, though, all of that changed.

Carnegie Mellon students are trained to reveal parts — and often all — of their Social Security numbers, with little concern for their own personal privacy. Since Orientation, it’s been last-four-digits this, last-two-digits that. Getting into campus dorm rooms and registering for classes both require partial Social Security numbers. On top of that, students are often asked to divulge their entire Social Security number when a university employee asks for a student ID number.

That’s because social security numbers are student IDs,...