Medford/Somerville, Mass. -- Seven percent of the Massachusetts population -- roughly 411,000 people -- are college students, reports USA Today. Tufts graduate Jeremy Fischer is focused on accounting for 4,300 of those students -- many of whom were his fellow classmates.

   Fischer and 18 other students are working with the national census bureau to ensure that Boston records one of the best mail-in return rates among the nation's big cities. To do that, Fischer told USA Today that he has dedicated the last few months to spreading word of the census around campus.

   "These days, Jeremy Fischer is the big man on campus," wrote USA Today's Fred Bayles, describing Fischer's campaign of posters, pizza nights and sidewalk chalking. It might take a little coaxing, but Fischer is getting the job done.

   He told the newspaper, "Once you get [the students] to do it, they realize it only takes about 45 seconds. Some are actually disappointed there aren't more questions."

Online: http://www.tufts.edu/communications/printable/050800AlumLeadsCensusTeam