Helping Sun Devils count in the 2020 Census
Every 10 years, the U.S government conducts a count of everyone residing within the country, and this year is a census year. The census not only counts how many people reside here, but it also provides the government with crucial information about the various demographics of our residents and affects local funding for infrastructure, education and much more.
ASU junior Rachel Caldwell has made it her mission to make sure that Sun Devils learn the importance of the 2020 Census and do their civic duty by participating. Caldwell is currently studying political science and gender studies at ASU, while also pursuing a minor in history.
ASU Junior Rachel Caldwell
Through her role as the director of government affairs for Undergraduate Student Government, Caldwell has been one of the leaders in the effort to get Sun Devils to participate and be counted in the census.
“The 2020 Census determines the amount of funding received from the federal government and the number of representatives Arizona has in the U.S. House of Representatives. These directly affect the resources and representation available to students,” Caldwell said. “If we are not counted, our resources and representation as Arizonans and students are at stake. Additionally, population data statistics used for educational research and programs will be skewed.”
Caldwell is also emphasizing the importance of ASU students filling out the census for Arizona, as opposed to anywhere else students might stay for part of the year. In fact, for many students living in campus housing, the school will report the data on their behalf.
“If you accidentally filled out the form by yourself, don’t worry. The Census Bureau will just call you and ask you to clarify your information. Students living off-campus may fill out the census form online, by phone or by mail,” Caldwell said.
Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, Caldwell was helping out at events all over campus to make sure students were informed about the census. Because of the outbreak, Caldwell and her teammates have had to cancel many of their plans but continue to provide information and resources for students over social media.
One thing Caldwell wants to make sure students know is that they have nothing to worry about when it comes to the safety of their personal information.
“There is no citizenship question on the Census, and all personal data provided is confidential under U.S. criminal law,” Caldwell said. “The Census Bureau cannot share this information with other government departments, not even with law enforcement agencies or ICE.”
Because of the pandemic, the deadline to fill out the census has been extended to August 14, 2020, for those that have yet to fill it out.
If you have questions about where you should count, visit the ASU Census 2020 page for more information.