ABSTRACT
The twenty million students who enroll in higher education each year are characterized by diversity. Family income, academic preparation, race, ethnicity, gender and religion all are characteristics that combine to make for a complex configuration in each college’s student body. American colleges and universities devote substantial time and resources to what are called the “extracurricular” and “co curricular” activities and organizations of student life. For all institutions, but especially at residential campuses, the structures and customs of membership and participation in student activities are central to the college experience. Who participates in which activities represents a complex mix of opportunities and exclusion. At times non-merit and partisan factors such as political or religious affiliation may shape configurations in terms of which students participate these varied organizations bring to the campus community. It includes institutional commitment to a large professional staff with varied expertise, ranging from social organizing to hosting special events and providing counseling services. Questions of equity in funding surface in budget allocations for the student groups funded primarily through mandatory student fees.
