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NEWS / WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2010 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM
EMPLOYMENT
Census seeks students to fill jobs
BY ANNIE VANGSNES anniev@kansan.com
During a period of budget cuts and unemployment, the Douglas County census could be one of the few places in Lawrence that is continuing to hire.
The Douglas County census could be hiring 30 to 50 people throughout the spring. The number of jobs depends on the number of residents who do not return their census forms and must be contacted in person.
Nancee Torkelson, local census office manager, said the census was going to need students because of their ability to work evenings and their familiarity with the areas near campus.
"They just know more about what's going on on campus," Torkelson said.
Torkelson said the first step to apply to work for the census was to set up a testing appointment. All applicants take a 28-question test in 30 minutes that covers basic math, reading comprehension and map reading.
Kristen Stutt, a senior from Lawrence, works as a recruiting assistant for the census in Douglas County. She said she usually saw
two or three KU students at every test, but had seen one test made up entirely of students. She said that she had seen a small decrease in the number of students at tests recently.
"It could just be that in the middle of the semester they just have more going on," Stuitt said.
Leo Prieto, a census partnership specialist, coordinates census efforts between the government and community organizations. Prieto said the census paid $10 to $15 per hour, reimbursed for mileage and had flexible hours, which was a draw for students. He said jobs could last from 4 weeks to 6 months.
"We're really pushing for students to take their test, get hired and work for the census," Prieto said.
Prieto said the census was making the process easier for students by offering a testing site on campus at Snow Hall.
Torkelson said there were one to two test sessions at Snow Hall every week and seven to eight test sessions per week across Lawrence.
Stitu stt hiring was based mainly on test scores and the needs of the area of town where the applicant lived. She said it also helped if the student was bilingual.
WANT TO APPLY?
Call (866) 861-2010 to set up a test appointment.
After the applicant completes the
A practice test is available at http://2010.census.gov/2010censusjobs/documents/Practice_Test.pdf
test, the census performs a background check. As soon as a position opens in the applicant's neighborhood, the census will offer him or her a job. Stuit said she applied in January of 2009 and was notified this January that there was a position for her.
Torkelson said the census was mainly hiring enumerators, who are door-to-door census takers.
Prieto said the census was also hiring people for clerical work in offices and for information centers around town. He said there was not an application deadline, and the census would keep hiring until the need was met.
"It's a great way to make a difference," Prieto said. "You're being paid to make a difference."
Edited by Katie Blankenau
CENSUS (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
deadline, they may not get counted if they don't live in Lawrence over the summer. Between May and July, when many students leave the city, census takers will be going door-to-door to finish the census.
He said another problem could be that students don't care enough to return their census forms. He said some students might think it was not convenient enough or just didn't understand the importance.
"You can't force people to do it."
Butt dialing fail?
Earles said. "But in the end you really hope they do."
We can fix it.
Between censuses, the Census Bureau administers more than 200 annual surveys.
Prieto said it was important for students to complete the national census because the data helped allocate $435 billion in government funding for state and city infrastructure. That money affects student and federal loans, transportation systems, health centers and higher education. The national census also determines state, local and congressional districts.
The census is the largest peacetime operation the federal government undertakes.
The first census took place in 1790 to determine the number of seats each state would have in the House of Representatives.
"When they fill out their census they're going to bring back those tax dollars to their university." Prieto said.
The Census Bureau was established in 1902
The University is not penalizing students for not participating in the national census.
CENSUS FACTS:
Edited by Kirsten Hudson
Source:2010.census.gov
Valerie Skubal/KANSAN
Laughing love
Comedian Loni Love laughs at herself while performing in Woodruff Auditorium on Tuesday. Love has been featured on VH1's I Love the 70s, 80s and 90s, as well as appearances on "Chelsea Lately."
FAKE (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
to change depending on the officers' availability, but that the target dates, although written into the grant proposal, weren't meant to be public knowledge.
She said that Lawrence bar owners were invited to be part of the committee but that only three attended and were told the dates.
"They're the ones that showed up and wanted to be a part of it, so yeah they found out," she said. "I guess it was a little bit of a perk."
As a part of the educational campaign, Brinkerhoff has placed ads in the Kansan and distributed posters to bar owners warning minors to think twice about the consequences of using false identification.
"It's public education as well as striking fear into the hearts of minors." Sgt. Steve Lewis of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office
said. "There are consequences if you're doing something illegal, so just be aware that those consequences are out there."
Jo Hardesky, director of Legal Services for Students, said that
under Lawrenzes city ordinance, the consequences of a fake ID could include a fine from $300 to $500 and no less than 100 hours of public service duties.
A second
ID charge by itself that often, because the people who are getting caught are trying to get into a bar or buying something at a liquor store," Hardesky said.
Younger said that Rick's Place
"It's public education as well as striking fear into the hearts of minors."
offense could cost from $500 to $2,500 and up to a year in jail. Those prices do not include the court fees of $52, nor do they add in the probability of receiving an MIP as well as the fake 1D charge.
SGT. STEVE LEWIS Douglas County Sheriff's Office
"We usually don't see the fake
enforced the law, even if he didn't agree with it.
"I think the law is wrong.
I think it should be 18,
but since it's 21
and since we have to do it.
just have to be a hard-on about it," he said. "It's just the nature of the law and there's nothing you can do about it."
Edited by Katie Blankenau
THEFT (CONTINUED FROM 1A)
"In the past two years there have been a number of significant losses of stuff from the A&D," she said in an e-mail. "It's complicated because to enumerate all of this would be to advertise what is being done to attempt to control theft in A&D"
Lois Greene, chair of the design department, said thefts continued to be a problem within the department despite security measures in place.
lockers do not always have room to hold everything. Students are occasionally forced to leave pieces out for hours at a time if the pieces aren't finished or need time to dry.
"We could use better lockers that actually lock but the University keeps telling us that
In other words, publicizing problem areas and secu-
"I have just been extra careful about everything that I do in the building."
GRAHAM MARTIN Atlanta senior
the lockers are fine, a l t h o u g h they are broken" Martin said.
rity measures within the building could prevent avoiding the problems in the first place.
Lockers are available to students, but many are damaged or broken altogether. In a section of 32 lockers on the fourth floor, 10 were unusable.
Martin said he was tired of this happening.
Even students with secure
Martin and others
said they really noticed the problem last semester and that it had been a bigger issue ever since.
But theft is not just an issue for students. Elizabeth Kowalchuk, associate dean for the School of Arts, said the theft of technology belonging to the department had been an ongoing problem in Art
and Design.
Laptop computers and camera equipment are some of the items that have been taken.
Allowing the building to be open throughout the evening could also be part of the problem, she said. Although the Art and Design building closes at night, anyone would have access by way of Marvin Hall, which is open 24 hours every day.
Martin said that until he sees a resolution, he has adopted a new philosophy — to keep a better watch on the things and make sure to secure every possession.
"I have just been extra careful about everything that I do in the building," Martin said. "I don't bring things unless I absolutely have to."
Thefts at the Department of Art and Design is part of an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the Office of Public Safety at 785-864-5900.
Edited by Megan Heacock
*Excludes sale items. See kubookstores.com for a complete list of Crimson & Blue Days.
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