A problem with bar codes on some Lee University student IDs prevented the cards from being read correctly by chapel scanners, Vice President for Student Life Walt Mauldin said Friday.

While the university is reprinting cards for every student, five chapel services will have passed before new cards are distributed following U-Church Aug. 30, according to the university’s chapel schedule.

In the mean time, both President Paul Conn and Mauldin have made light of the situation, Conn making a scene of simultaneously declaring cards scanned from the pulpit following his Aug. 21 message in the Conn Center.

Mauldin declared wireless card scanning a powerful feature on his iPhone, pulling off a picture-taking stunt involving the chapel projectors on Aug. 28.

“As a member of the elite club of iPhone owners, I am disappointed that he has revealed this much of our power so early,” senior Heather Rawleigh joked.

An e-mail Mauldin sent to students Friday said that the card malfunctions were caused by the bar codes in the right-hand corner of the cards.

“The bar code had to be moved over two pixels…believe it or not!” he said.

The university scheduled a last-miunte post-chapel mixer in Alumni Park on Sunday, Aug. 31, following the U-Church Starfield concert, to distribute new cards in return for old ones. The Student Leadership Council will be serving food to students in the park as well.

Mauldin said he expects distribution to be quick, given that 26 sites will be set up for the process.

While some students have paid little attention to the scanning problems, others have been frustrated by the ordeal.

“I’m rather put out because I planned carefully how many chapels I can miss each month, and I can’t afford it if the ratios keep changing because of the scanners not working,” said senior Jessica Mason.

Students who do not pick up replacement cards Sunday night will be able to make the exchange in the Conn Center lobby Monday or Tuesday, Mauldin said.