RADFORD – Representatives of Radford University recently joined the City of Radford and The United States Census 2010 for a rally at the Radford Public Library to emphasize the critical importance of participation in the census by all members of the Radford community, especially RU students.

“It is important that every individual who calls Radford home gets counted,” said Radford Mayor Thomas Starnes. “We need to know what the population in the City of Radford is, including our nine-month residents at RU.”

Joining Starnes for the event was Kathryn Jordan, the university’s director of academic engagement and community partnerships, who signed an official partnership agreement with Census 2010 on behalf of RU that engages the university in the census’ effort to ensure a complete and accurate 2010 census.

Jordan (pictured at right) said assisting the effort to generate an accurate count of the community would be a valuable activity for RU that coincides with the university’s 2010 Centennial Service Challenge in which the university community has been challenged to become involved in service.

“I know that understanding their responsibilities about participation in the census will help our students learn the importance of a citizen’s involvement in their home communities if they want to see changes and improvements in the world,” said Jordan.

Census data guides local community planning efforts, the allocation of over $300 billion in federal funds annually, and how many seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives. It also directs redistricting of the Virginia state legislature, Montgomery County and Radford city councils, and voting districts in those municipalities.

“We are pleased that Radford University and the City of Radford are taking the lead in support of the local efforts to get as accurate a census count as possible,” said Karen Wesley, partnership specialist for the United States Census Bureau. “The census 2010 theme is ‘It’s in our hands,’ and through this partnership, we are combining our strengths to accomplish the important goal of an accurate count.”

The census canvassing will begin soon and be completed by Dec. 31, 2010.