The Daily Princetonian recently published the results of a survey done by the school’s “Committee on Background and Opportunity” (COMBO). The Committee found that students’ experiences at Princeton varied with their self-reported socioeconomic class.

This isn’t exactly earth-shattering news, nor is it a phenomenon unique to Princeton — renting on 44th and Chestnut is not the same as living in the Radian, dinner at Pod costs way more than a sandwich at Frita’s and 50-cent night on campus is different from bottle service downtown.

But in addition to a discrepancy in “student experience” there was also “some discrepancy among members of the same [self-reported] income bracket as to which social class they belong to.”

Uhhh, by “some discrepancy” COMBO means that of the students who reported “upper-middle class” status, some had parents who earned $25,000 per year and some had parents who earned $1 million annually. So upper-middle class means just above the poverty line… or… a millionaire?

Homer Simpson lives in Evergreen Terrace, “the nicest upper-lower-middle class section of Springfield” and it seems that Princeton’s students (okay, and probably everyone else too) are equally confused.I looked all over for a reliable definition of “middle-class.” Wikipedia offered, “overall, middle class persons, especially upper middle class individuals, are characterized by conceptualizing, creating and consulting.” Answers.com identified the middle class as “the socioeconomic class between the working class and the upper class, usually including professionals, highly skilled laborers, and lower and middle management.”

Helpful, huh? I’m not feeling any clearer, but I think COMBO’s explanation of the survey results is compelling. The Committee offers that being middle class is like being in the “in” crowd because of pervading negative views of both the upper and lower classes.

So to the guy with X5 parked in front of my house and the girl whose pockets are loaded down with SEPTA tokens: I guess we’re all “in” this together.

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