PRSSA chapter promotes 2010 census on campus

RIT students are doing their part to promote awareness of a massive national effort that touches every person living in our nation—the census.

This Thursday, members of the PRSSA, the Public Relations Student Society of America, present a panel discussion on various aspects of the 2010 census. The event takes place at 4 p.m. in the Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science auditorium, and all members of the campus community are invited to attend.

The Census Bureau considers the student population among the “hard to count” audiences. Organizers of the 2010 census hope to engage college students in a massive grassroots effort to encourage their peers to take part. Research shows that students did not receive the education needed to understand how to participate during past decennial census counts.

Panel speakers include Razy Kased and Thomas M. Kicior from the Genesee/Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council.

Distribution of over $300 billion annually in state and federal funding is based on census data. This includes funding for schools, roads, health care services, veteran care, education grants, housing assistance, rehabilitation loans, public transportation and other services.

RIT’s PRSSA chapter is competing in the annual Bateman Competition, a national public relations campaign that focuses on a specific national initiative. This year’s competition focuses on the 2010 census. Students have three months to plan, execute and evaluate a campaign promoting the cause.