Editorial: Ensuring representation for our community

Participating in the census gives the federal government the information it needs to make decisions regarding political representation and resource allocation. An accurate record of the distribution of residents in the United States determines the number of seats each state is allocated in the House of Representatives. It also influences the amount of federal funding given to each region for projects such as infrastructure improvements and administrative services. These include the construction of bridges, roads, tunnels and other public works projects, as well as the establishment of schools, hospitals and emergency services organizations. The questions concerning race on the census form are used by the government to monitor the success of nondiscrimination provisions including the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act. Nongovernmental organizations such as environmental and consumer advocacy groups also rely on the information provided by the census to study possible adverse effects of private and public actors on citizen welfare.

Filling out the census takes only a few minutes and should be completed within the next week. All students should participate, regardless of their citizenship. When providing this information, students should keep in mind that because current Princeton students spend most of their year at the University, we should identify as residents of New Jersey regardless of our permanent addresses. In fact, the federal government requires that students living away from home fill out the census where they go to school — parents of college students should not report them when completing their own census forms. By participating in the census and providing an accurate representation of the resident population in the local area, Princeton students are doing their part to ensure that this region and our community are given their due political say, federal resources and attention from advocacy groups.

Census forms can be dropped off at the welcome desk in Frist Campus Center, in each of the residential college offices and at the Housing Department office. The 2010 census will impact political representation and societal welfare for years to come, and the Editorial Board strongly urges all students to participate.