RAs all over campus handed out the 2010 Census forms this week, asking students to fill them out and return them by the beginning of next week. Although the government struggles with getting people to respond quickly and efficiently, the Columbia community is working to ensure the timely mailing of every Census.

Associate Vice President of Student Auxiliary Services, Scott Wright said, "This is the way we're doing the census in America so it's pretty important, I guess - just to make sure we're doing the right things."

Despite the worries of some of their peers, many students are showing their support for the goals of the Census.

One student noted, "I know some people see it as an invasion of privacy but I don't because, as Paul was saying, that the government needs to know how many people there are and where they're living just so that they can provide amenities for people that are necessities for society to function properly."

"If not enough people do the census there won't be enough supplies for everybody or buses or subways, etc," said another student.

While some students have never filled out the Census before, the government and Columbia administration took steps to ensure that the process minimized student confusion.

One freshman said, "I was confused about filling it out here or at home because my mom said she didn't know if she should put me down on the list."

But Wright clarified that "it's very clear that you do not list in your document anybody who's away at college."

As the due date approaches, students who have not turned in their Census feel the pressure to turn their forms in so that they can be counted.