Census takers Xin and Eric (last names withheld) pass out cards to students during the lunch hour outside the dining hall in Farrand Thursday. (CU Independent/Kelly Kaoudis)
Just being counted isn’t enough for the 2010 Census, it’s the ‘where’ that also matters, said Deborah Cameron, the Census Bureau media spokesperson for the Denver regional area.
“Students need to be counted in Boulder,” Cameron said. “University students need to know that they should be counted where they go to school, not at their house…their numbers depend on funding from the federal funding for the next ten years and at the place where they go to school. It’s used for services that they take advantage of while at school, like health care.”
The census is required by the Constitution to occur once every ten years and this year will determine the distribution of over $400 billion of federal funds to communities in the United States, according to the 2010 Census Web site.
According to the 2010 Census Web site, the ten-question census form was mailed out in March. The questions ask for information such as name, age, ethnicity and household relationship, according to the site.
Cameron said the length of the form should encourage people to fill it out.
“It is ten questions that can take less than ten minutes,” Cameron said.
The 2010 Census Web site asks for people to use April 1, National Census Day, as a reference point to return their census forms, but Cameron said the forms should be sent back by mid-April. If the forms are not received a census taker will visit the residence to ask the questions personally sometime in May, Cameron said.
Anu Shrestha, a 20-year-old junior economics major, said taking the census was very easy.
“I pretty much just had to fill in my name and say I was single,” Shrestha said. “It’s not that hard.”
Refusing to take the census can lead to larger consequences, Cameron said.
“If they refuse to participate it is a possible up to $5,000 fine,” Cameron said. “But this is such a last resort. We try to not to focus on the fine, we want to try to make it a positive incentive to return the form.”
Students on campus said they feel the census is important to fill out.
“It’s important,” Shrestha said. “It helps figure out the funding…people should do it.”
Kate Horton, a 21-year-old senior accounting major, agreed as she expressed her concern for those who fail to be counted.
“It’s only hurting them if they don’t fill it out,” Horton said. “If they don’t, Colorado doesn’t know they’re here.”
Cindy Loveday, a 19-year-old sophomore Chinese and history major, said she felt uncertain of the census’ accuracy.
“It would be interesting to see how accurate it is,” Loveday said. “If everyone fills it out, I think it will give an indication, but I’m not sure if they will act upon it.”
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Rose Heaphy at Josephine.heaphy@colorado.edu.
