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U.S. CENSUS 2000 IS BIG PAIN FOR MOST INVOLVED by Patrick La Croix For many Americans, filling out their census form is not high on their list of priorities. The United States Census Bureau sends out its census forms at the beginning of every decade to households across the nation. The "short" census form is sent out to five out of every six households, while the "long" form is sent to the remaining one out of every six households. The main purpose of the census is to obtain an accurate population count, a necessity for proper congressional appointments. Furthermore, answers given on the census can lead to certain communities obtaining the services and programs they may need. According to Richard Forcellatti a senior, attending Marist College, in the census is seen as intrusive and an invasion of privacy. "I know that my parents would rather not have to send their forms in because they do not feel that that kind of information is relevant to anything," said Forcellatti. "Some of the questions that are asked are real personal and unnecessary. I live off campus, and I was sent a form. I am only living in my house for another four weeks, so I have trouble in seeing the point in sending anything in." Much of the controversy swirls around the questions and the length of the long form. The long form asks 53 questions and includes questions that ask about people’s methods of dressing and bathing and at what time they leave for work in the morning. The short form, on the other hand, is much shorter and asks more basic questions such as name and age. Federal law states that there is a $100 fine for those who do not send in their forms. Last week, the Senate approved a resolution stating that "no American will be prosecuted, fined or in any way harassed by the federal government." According to John Cross, head of the DPW in Holden, Massachusetts, now that Congress has passed the resolution, more will be willing to fill out the census. "The census is important because it allows the government to allocate its funds in a more effective and efficient manner," said Cross. "Some of the questions can be seen as ridiculous, and I think that people should only answer the questions that they as citizens, tax payers and voters see as important and relevant. But they should not ignore the forms because they are important to every person’s well being." Reportedly, 60 percent of the long forms and 48 percent of the long forms have been filled out and sent to the Census Bureau. The Census Bureau predicts that 61 percent of the total forms will be returned, which compares unfavorably to the 65 percent of the forms that were filled out and returned to the Census Bureau in 1990. There is a good chance that the process will undergo a change before the next census in 2010. Census officials have said that they would like to replace the long form with a rolling survey of smaller proportions.