Purdue students could help 2010 Census

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - With the 2010 Census right around the corner, West Lafayette is encouraging Purdue students to sign up. If Purdue students are included in the 2010 census, it will help put the population above 35,000, which will make West Lafayette a class two city. This classification will open up doors for more grants and federal funding for West Lafayette.

For the past 10 years, West Lafayette's population has been on the rise. Recent research shows the city's population is around 31,000. If Purdue students sign up for the 2010 census, it could help West Lafayette receive more grants and federal funding.

"The biggest challenge we do have, living in a college town, is trying to make sure we document all our long term residents here," said West Lafayette Mayor John Dennis. "It's important for the city of West Lafayette to know who lives here. It is important for us to count every nose in this community so we can potentially increase our population and therefore possibily increase the opporunity for revenue streams to come into the city."

Purdue students say they will probably sign up and hope that some of the funding will come back to the University.

"If the funding would go towards some activities through the school, through West Lafayette, I think a lot of people would be for it," said Purdue Freshman Jordan Cunningham.

"It would get West Lafayette more funding so it'll make West Lafayette better for students in general," said Purdue Sophomore Thomas Just.

The Census form is simple. Just ten questions, like how many people live with you and whether you live in a house or an apartment. The problem the city faces is making students aware there is a census coming up.

"We are also looking at ways to have a PR campaign that would recruit top notch and very well known Purdue graduates to assist in this as well," said Dennis.

"Word of mouth gets it around," explained Just. "I'll probably tell my friends about is so they'll tell somebody else. I think by the time the spring gets around, more people will know about it"