Monday, March 8, 2010

Students count for Winona in 2010 Census

BY KARINA RAJTAR
Editor in Chief

The 2010 Census is coming up, and Saint Mary’s University students are expected to fill out a Census form for Winona.

“You are part of the city,” said Winona Mayor Jerry Miller. Miller said that one of the keys to this year’s Census is that students who live in Winona at least six months of the year count toward Winona’s Census. He added that federal funding for the city is based on the population, and the student population in Winona has increased since 2000 with students attending SMU, Winona State University and Southeast Technical College.

“It’s easy, it’s important and it’s confidential,” city of Winona Assistant City Planner Carlos Espinosa said in a presentation to the student senate on Tuesday, Feb. 23. Espinosa said completing the Census is a civic duty, takes about 10 minutes and impacts and benefits the community for 10 years. According to the city of Winona website, any student, including non-citizens and international students, who lives in Winona most of the year can be counted.

Census forms will be distributed in March and April. Students on campus will fill out their own forms, Espinosa said. Students living offcampus will receive a form in the mail and should fill out one form for the entire household or apartment.

Students are also invited to the Toner Lounge at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, March 8, to hear a presentation by Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie. Ritchie is on a statewide tour promoting the Census and discussing election law changes that would affect students.

More information about the 2010 Census can be found on the city of Winona website, www.cityofwinona-mn.com.

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