Levi Brandenburg
Contributing Writer
Isaac Ash
Contributing Writer
The first Murray State Complete Count Committee met on Wednesday, Feb. 19, to solve the looming problem of the 2020 Census.
The United States has conducted a census for 230 years. Every 10 years, the United States Census Bureau puts together a nationwide census of all American residents. It asks questions regarding basic demographics like age, gender, number of residents in a home and whether they are permanent or temporary residents.
In the past, the census was always conducted on paper mailed to each household or in person by census workers. This led to many undercounts of minorities, low-income families and especially college students. However, the Murray State CCC is hoping to help fix the underestimation.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Murray State’s CCC is a volunteer committee that helps confirm the accuracy of the census and make programs to help get as many people to respond as possible.
“For the first time, the census is being done online,” said La Dawn Hale, Murray State’s partnership specialist. “We are sending letters with codes to each household which lets them complete the census online. We’re hoping it will help to increase the number of people who respond.”
This year the group is hoping to combat a low count because the results of the census directly correlate to how many resources counties get, like Calloway County.
“The census affects many things including education, transportation, health and businesses,” Hale said. “An undercount means that Murray State would get less money for students for financial aid and that federal aid like Pell Grants and fewer federal grants will be given.”
Students at Murray State have a general understanding of what the census is, but have not given any thought on how they can fill it out.
“I haven’t really thought much about it, but I guess I’ll plan to,” said Peyton Lutz, junior from Louisville, Kentucky.
In 2010, the last decennial census, Murray was labeled a problem area in Kentucky. One of the main reasons Murray is a concern is because of the difficulty of conducting the census on campus. In fact, many college campuses are considered problems in conducting the census because of the large number of people who live in very few buildings, the mobile nature of college students and mistakes on the students’ part.
“Students who live on campus don’t have to worry about as much,” said David Wilson, the director of housing and residence life. “Many of them we already have the information for and use a group quarters operation to provide that information. Our biggest problem is in commuting students and the College Courts since their situation is different.”
Letters will start to arrive to households between March 12 and March 20. The CCC plans to complete the census by the end of April.
