Volume XXXVI No. 9 Published as a public service since 1985 Friday, March 6, 2020 Th e Rev. Peter U.S. 2020 Census: Why, Gray Elected Misconceptions, and How University by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer In March, the U.S. Census Bureau will mail postcards to all U.S. ad- Chaplain dresses inviting them to participate in the 2020 U.S. census. Th e United States collects census data every 10 years. Th e Rev. Peter Whittlesey Gray, “X number of people translates into X number of dollars,” said Cen- rector of the Church of the Nativ- sus Complete Count volunteer Rachel Petropoulos. “For every person ity in Greenwood, Miss., has been that did not participate in the census in 2010, it costs Franklin County elected the next chaplain of the $1,000 in federal and state funding. We estimate the county lost over University of the South. Th e Uni- $10 million in funding over the last 10 years due to lack of participation versity’s Board of Trustees elected in the 2010 census.” Gray during their meeting on Feb. Th e Franklin County Complete Count Committee is composed of 28. Th e election follows a thorough local volunteers representing diverse walks of life including education, national search that began last hospitals and churches, Petropoulos said. Th e committee’s goal is an summer. accurate census count for Franklin County in 2020. Gray will succeed the Rev. In addition to determining government funding amounts, census data Thomas E. Macfie Jr., who will is used to determine congressional representation and aids businesses in complete his work as chaplain at the making expansion and hiring decisions, Petropoulos said. end of the academic year in June. However, Petropoulos stressed, “Th e census does not want to fi nd il- Macfi e was appointed chaplain in legal immigrants, and law prohibits the government from sharing census 2006. data with law enforcement or any other government agencies.” Census “I am honored to accept Se- data is not used to determine eligibility for benefi ts like SNAP or Social Th e 17th Vice-Chancellor Reuben E. Brigety II and his wife, Leelie wanee’s call to serve as chaplain. In Security. With a goal of wanting non-citizens to respond so the count Selassie, M.D. Photo by the University of the South. this role, I hope to help this beloved will be accurate, the census questionnaire does not ask if responders have school exemplify the virtues of U.S. citizenship. Nor does the census ask for social security numbers, the Episcopal Church at its best, bank numbers, or political party affi liation. namely: generosity and welcome, Providing an overview of the data collection process, Petropoulos Reuben E. Brigety II justice and mercy, and a fearless and said U.S. residents can participate in the U.S. census online, by mail or humble commitment to the pursuit phone. Th ose who do not respond to the March postcard invitation to Named University of the truth,” said Gray. participate online will receive a questionnaire by mail. “Th ere are pockets “Together with the outstanding in the county with poor internet service,” Petropoulos acknowledged. A staff of All Saints’ Chapel and with census taker will visit addresses that have not responded by May. of the South Vice- every partner we can fi nd in the Se- “April 1 is Census Day,” Petropoulos said. “You should answer the wanee community, I look forward questions about your primary residence based on where you typically to prayerfully nurturing diverse live and consume services as of April 1, even if you are away from home Chancellor and opportunities in which students, on that date.” faculty, and staff can grow spiritu- Students who reside away from their families for most of the year, ally. And I look forward to—each and homeless people are counted by a method called “group quarters,” President of us—challenging ourselves to Petropoulos said. Families with students who primarily reside away from Reuben E. Brigety II, dean of led a school of international aff airs fi nd how we can help Sewanee live the home should not count those students when fi lling out the census the Elliott School of International that is consistently ranked among up to its loftiest ideals.” form. Th e students are counted where they attend school. Aff airs at Th e George Washington the nation’s 10 best, and is one of Gray is a 2004 magna cum laude Th e U.S. Census Bureau is recruiting census takers for residence visits. University (GWU) and former the largest by enrollment. Under graduate of Millsaps College. He Th e job lasts eight to 10 weeks and pays $14 per hour, along with 58 U.S. ambassador to the African Brigety’s leadership, the Elliott received a Master of Th eological cents per mile. Many census takers do the job on weekends or during Union, has been elected the Uni- School has created research insti- Studies degree from Vanderbilt their off time from their regular job. Many states exempt census-taker versity of the South’s 17th vice- tutes for every region of the world, in 2006, and earned a Master of income when determining SNAP and other benefi ts, Petropoulos said. chancellor and president. launched an incubator for applied Divinity degree from Virginia To apply to be a census taker, visit <https://2020census.gov/en/jobs/ The University’s Board of ethics education and leadership Theological Seminary in 2008. how-to-apply.html>. Trustees elected Brigety today training, and increased support He was ordained to the priesthood In the 10-year span between 2000 and 2010, the U.S. population following a national search that for student research travel and in December 2008 at St. Anna’s increased 9.7 percent to 308,745,538. began in September 2019. He will internships. Church in New Orleans. Stressing the importance of the census, Petropoulos said, “How do begin his term as vice-chancellor on Prior to becoming dean in 2015, A native of Oxford, Miss., Gray you plan for the future without knowing how many people there are?” Aug. 1. Brigety succeeds John M. Brigety served as U.S. ambassador has been in his current role at Na- McCardell Jr., who will step down to the African Union for two years. tivity in Greenwood since 2013. He July 31, 2020, after serving 10 years In that role, he managed the strate- founded and serves as co-chair of Highway 41A to Get as vice-chancellor. gic partnership between the United an ecumenical ministry that builds “It is my honor and privilege to States and the African Union with unity in the Body of Christ across Makeover in Sewanee serve as the next vice-chancellor an emphasis on democracy and racial and denominational lines. by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer and president of the University of governance, economic growth, the South, an institution that holds and development. He also served (Continued on page 5) At the March Sewanee Village Rogers said. Th e University Avenue a truly distinctive place in Ameri- as the permanent representative update meeting, project manager intersection will have 11-foot wide can higher education,” said Brigety. of the United States to the UN Local Voting, Robert Rogers presented the design center turn lanes for traffi c turning “During the search process, I got Economic Commission for Africa; for narrowing Highway 41A to two left. Traveling east, there will also a glimpse of what makes Sewanee and, earlier, as deputy assistant lanes. “We’re in the right-of-way be a center turn lane at Reeds Lane. so special—an intellectual rigor secretary of state in the Bureau of Super Tuesday phase,” said Rogers, a civil engineer On the north side, the construc- coupled with an unparalleled sense African Aff airs, with responsibility by Bailey Basham and roadway design specialist with tion will include a 6-foot sidewalk of community, and a strong sense of for Southern African and regional Messenger Staff Writer Tennessee Department of Trans- and 6-foot planting strip from place that is inclusive of everybody security aff airs. portation. “Once the right-of-ways Kentucky Avenue to Alabama Av- Voting numbers are in for are acquired and the utilities are enue. On the south side, the plan who fi nds their way here.” “Th is is a great day. In Ambassa- Franklin, Grundy and Marion “Reuben Brigety has spent his dor Brigety we have been fortunate moved, we can begin the construc- calls for extending the Mountain counties. tion phase.” Goat Trail. Th e trail will begin just life in public service, as a naval of- to fi nd a bold and thoughtful leader As of this month’s vote, there fi cer, as a deputy assistant secretary who will bring to Sewanee the gifts Th e half-mile project will re- west of the Sewanee Market and are 50,277 voters registered be- duce the highway from four lanes join the existing trail at Hawkins of state, as an ambassador, and as of insight and of compassion that tween the three counties, and of an educator. Born as a child of the propelled him to the global stage,” to two lanes, with curbing from Lane. Th e 10-foot wide shared-use those voters, 9,611 cast votes in the Kentucky Avenue to Trimble Lane, South, Reuben is now a man of the said Pulitzer Prize-winning author March 3 Presidential Preference (Continued on page 5) world,” said the Rt. Rev. Robert and historian Jon Meacham, C’91, Primary.