THE PENDULUM

by Melissa Kansky, February 9, 2010

"Portrait of America" can inspire images of a melting pot, the New York skyline, or legendary American heroes. Through the collaborative efforts of Elon's Bateman Team, a national public relations organization, and the 2010 Census Bureau Elon students were encouraged to add their face to America's profile.

"Portrait of America" serves as the tagline for the 2010 Census Bureau.

"I think 'Portrait of America' is a great way for the census to put a face on what they are actually doing," Bateman Team member Kaitlin Carlin said. "We all know we have to fill out forms and that there is paper work involved, but no one knows what that means besides some numbers."

Through an interactive kiosk in the Moseley parking lot, the Bateman Team and Census representatives clarified the purpose and significance of the legally mandatory questionnaire.

"The census makes sure we capture every single ethnic group, every single religious group, and every single social group so everybody is portrayed in this portrait of America," explained Partnership Specialists Peter Bond.

As a partnership specialists Bond's duties constitute working with various counties surrounding Gilford County, including Alamance. The Census counts people according to their residence as of April 1. For the most part, students will be counted as part of Alamance County.

"Every student that is living away at college has to be counted on their own form," said Bateman Team member Craig Orsi.

"It is also very important for the students to understand this is how they get represented in congress, and therefore it is important politically regardless of anyone's political affiliation," Bond said.

While the 2010 Census Bureau intends to remind students of the required form, many are unfamiliar with the census process entirely.

"We found out a lot of student's don't even know that there is a census this year, and they don't know really what it is and if they are supposed to be a part of it," Molly Calpin, a member of the Bateman team, said.

As part of a nationwide PR competition to create the best campaign to promote the census, the Bateman Team used their clientele and resources to educate the Elon campus.

The Census Bureau event offered sample censuses and handouts to help students complete the survey. Census representatives were also available to answer any questions. Census representatives recorded students stating why the census is important to them to further promote the census at other venues.

Students that attended the event walked away with a better understanding of their requirements.

Elon student Margaret Cissel, who attended with her PR and Civic Responsibility class, said, "I learned the census happens once every decade and every single person in the U.S. has to take the census."

Although it is mandatory, according to Bond, approximately 65 to 67 percent of the population complete the survey the first time it is distributed. For those who do not respond, the Census Bureau is left to knock on their door.

"It's a big job," he said. "Our main job is to promote awareness so every adult person responds to the questionnaire in mid March."

"The census this year should only take 10 minutes and its only 10 questions," Orsi said. "You can fill it out on your walk to class."