When I was in college, 91-95, your SS# was your identifier. It was the unique code that everyone used when they needed a way to identify people.
I gotta dig it out, but I think my SS# was printed right on my school ID (and the state issued card allowing me to buy alcohol with my out of state driver's license -- Vermont).
My university (UT Dallas) once hosted a talk about privacy and security, during which they emphasized that it was important to keep your social security number as secret as possible.
Then they passed out sign-in sheets and asked us to sign in with our student IDs - which were our social security numbers.
The sign-in sheet made it through approximately half the room before someone pointed out what was happening. The organizers looked completely baffled.
When I was in college, 91-95, your SS# was your identifier. It was the unique code that everyone used when they needed a way to identify people.
I gotta dig it out, but I think my SS# was printed right on my school ID (and the state issued card allowing me to buy alcohol with my out of state driver's license -- Vermont).