Clubs and the Campus Racial Climate: Student Organizations and Interracial Friendship in College

Abstract

This study uses data from the National Longitudinal Study of Freshmen to examine the racial/ethnic composition of student organizations as well as the relationship between student organization participation and close interracial friendship. White students were the most likely to be in majority White environments in fraternities and sororities, while religious groups were the environments where Black and Asian American students were most likely to gather with same-race peers. Participating in Greek life, religious groups, and ethnic student organizations were negative predictors of having at least one close friend of another race/ethnicity. Students of color had higher rates of close interracial friendship than White students, and students attending racially diverse campuses were more likely to have close interracial friendship. Implications for student organizations and their impact on the campus racial climate are discussed.