Housing
Living conditions can affect both your social and academic success while at the Institute. Accordingly, great care should be taken in deciding where to live, as transfers become increasingly difficult as the extent of the change increases.
There are four types of housing available to MIT people; dormitories and on-campus apartments, fraternities, MIT affiliated independent living groups, and off-campus apartments. Students with housing problems can find help in the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs, W20-549. For off-campus housing information consult the Off-Campus Housing Service (E32-128, x3-1493).
Dormitories
For descriptions of the various undergraduate dormitories, consult the Undergraduate Residence Book, available from the Office of the Dean for Student Affairs (W20-549). You should have been mailed a copy in the summer before your arrival. The residents of each dorm write these descriptions, but sometimes they don't capture the whole spirit of a house. The best way to judge is to visit as many dorms as possible during R/O.
The desk staff and house manager can handle a wide variety of problems arising from the physical considerations of the dorm. Some dorms have listings of services provided, either posted or available for inspection. Ask. Complaints about desk staff should be made to the staff captain.
Bicycles
Most dorms have a semi-secure place to lock up your bike. However, lots of people use these areas; some may be careless and leave gates unlocked, reducing the security to the level of any back street in Cambridge. New and/or expensive bikes are safer for each additional lock between them and the bike market. See the Transportation chapter for more information.
Cooking
Many students at MIT enjoy cooking for themselves. The advantages include choosing what, where, and when you eat, and eating cheaper, less greasy food. You can easily save over 50% over Aramark prices, and a thrifty student can cut the cost (and gain in body weight) by 2/3 or more. One disadvantage is that cooking (and subsequent cleaning up) requires lots of time; another may be your cooking skills (or lack thereof). Many students find that getting together with friends to cook can save a lot of time and money.
Facilities for cooking provided by the Institute in dorms range from practically nil to complete kitchens. Be sure to check the cooking facilities of any dorm you are considering, even if you're sure you don't want to cook for yourself. Aramark has changed quite a few minds in this respect. Used refrigerators are common in dorms and are not that hard to come by. Working refrigerators can be purchased for $30-60. Check the ads in Tech Talk and on the walls of the Institute. Quite a few students make do with microwave ovens and the like in their rooms as their only means of cooking, so don't give up hopes of cooking for yourself because of lack of kitchen space. The Institute does frown on cooking in dorm rooms, though.
Humidity
During the winter, low humidity seems to be quite common in dormitories. If you continually wake up in the morning with a sore throat, try placing a few cans or dishes of water on the radiator. You'll be surprised how fast the water goes away, and even more surprised by what it leaves behind. Small, cheap humidifiers (under $20) are available in local drugstores. Some ultrasonic humidifiers have recently been considered dangerous; read Consumer Reports (available in the MIT Libraries) before you buy.
Liability for Damages
You can be assessed for a share of any damages in your suite or floor that cannot be pinned on an individual. This bill must be paid before you can get your degree.
Locked Yourself Out of Room?
With the advent of new doors and real locks in some dormitories, it has become much more difficult for the locked-out resident to pick his own lock. If the time-honored Coop card or coat hanger doesn't work, go to the desk and sign out a spare key (which is easier, and less suspicious-looking besides). If the desk is closed, find the night watchman, or, in desperation, call the Campus Police, who have keys to everywhere.
Painting a Room
The Institute provides free paint in any of eight colors to residents of East Campus, Senior House, and Bexley, once per year per room. Other dorms may have similar policies; check with your house manager. To get paint, go to your house desk and choose your hues; the paint will be delivered there. Always check with the manager before touching a brush to the wall, as you may be forced to pay to have the walls returned to their original color. One thing to remember is to order paint very early; it takes time to get it.
Pets
Pets, with the exception of fish, are not allowed in dormitories. Tolerance of any animal's stay is subject to veto by any member of the living group, as the Housing Office will then have to enforce the regulation. If you want to keep your beloved pet, make sure that noise, smell, or sand trays do not disturb your neighbors.
Refrigerators
In dorms containing kitchen facilities, refrigerator space is included with the room rent. If you don't get a fridge nor need more space, you can buy a used unit for under $50 from another student or one of the several used-refrigerator dealers in the area. Check ads in The Tech, Tech Talk, and bulletin boards, or the Yellow Pages.
Remodeling a Room
Non-destructive remodeling is OK in most cases as long as the room can be restored to its original state. The newer dorms tolerate less self-expression, and painting or building a loft may be considered serious offenses. The house manager must approve all lofts, since there are fire code issues involved.
Telephones
All dorm rooms now have real phone service. (This was unheard of just ten years ago.) MIT's phone system (5ESS digital PBX switching system) allows undergrad dorm residents as well as Ashdown residents to make local and long distance calls from MIT phones. The 5ESS system was installed in the summer of 1988. For those interested in such things, 5ESS stands for Fifth-generation Electronic Switching System.
To call someone at MIT, dial the last five digits of their number: 3-xxxx, 5-xxxx, or 8-xxxx. For local calls outside MIT, dial 9 followed by the seven-digit number. Local calls are included in your dorm rent. For toll-free calls, dial 9-1-800 and the number.
From outside of MIT, replace 3-xxxx with 253-xxxx, 5-xxxx with 225-xxxx, and 8-xxxx with 258-xxxx.
Long distance calls are processed by AT&T College and University Systems (ACUS). To make a domestic call, dial 9 + area code + seven digits; at the tone, enter your ID code. For international calls, dial 9 + 011 + country code + city code + telephone number; at the tone, enter your ID code. You can pick up your ID code at Registration from the AT&T representatives.
For an AT&T operator, dial 196-0. To use a standard AT&T calling card, dial 196-0 followed by the area code + seven digits. At the AT&T-trademarked tone, enter your card number as always.
The repair number for outside lines is 611; for MIT extensions it is x3-3654.
Valuables
Easily removable valuables such as jewelry, money, and watches should never be left unguarded in a dorm room, even for a short period of time. On lower floors, keep TV's, stereos, radios, tape recorders, etc. of easy sight through your window --- no point in inviting trouble. Don't forget, MIT is in a big city and that means a noticeable crime rate, even on Dorm Row. The Campus Police can loan you an electric scribe to scratch your name and ID number in your valuables as part of Operation Identification.
Varying Room Costs
The Institute gives recognition to the unequal desirability of rooms by charging slightly different rents for different rooms in some dorms. Factors that cause rents to vary include number of people using kitchen and bathroom facilities, common space, closets, view, elevator service, trash collection, etc. The exact cost of your room will show up on your bill from MIT.
Waterbeds
Waterbeds are allowed in dormitories, provided that the floors are deemed strong enough to support them safely. You'll need to get the house manager to approve the model and inspect the installation. As long as you treat the waterbed with care and don't puncture it accidentally, there should be no problems. However, the standard lease for apartments specifically forbids waterbeds. If you plan to move from a dorm to an apartment, check to see if you can take the waterbed with you.
Wild Animals
Despite appearances, the squirrels living on the East Campus are not tame. Don't leave food lying around your room in cardboard containers or plastic bags --- the squirrels will gnaw through the window frame if they smell anything. Also, some of the biggest cockroaches in the East, as well as assorted mice, caterpillars, mosquitoes, and other vermin, inhabit most dorms, especially during the summer. They won't cause any problem, as long as you keep the windows closed or install a good screen. Anti-roach devices are available at dorm desks. Do yourself and your dormmates a favor and clean up spilled foodstuffs immediately.
Independent Living Groups
(Known as fraternities and sororities at most other schools.) MIT's thirty-three independent living groups are diverse by any standard. Descriptions of each house (written by someone who lives there) can be found in the Undergraduate Residence Book, but the only way to get to know a house is to visit it and meet the people.
Rush week
Of those people who pledge fraternities, the vast majority joins as freshmen or incoming transfers during R/O Week, although exceptions occur. The Interfraternity Conference (W20-450, x3-7546) can provide more information. Try to ask lots of older students for advice on how to go through R/O. We can't tell you about specific houses (that would be a rush violation), but you can get widely varying advice about how to get the most out of this short period. The only advice we'll give you is that R/O is a very short time in which to decide where you're going to live for the four years you're at MIT, and that you should talk to as many people as you can about your living options.
Flushing
A word about "flushing," or "referring." Sometimes an ILG will take you aside during R/O and suggest that you look elsewhere. Generally it is not because they don't like you, it is because they don't think you'd fit in with their house. Often, they will suggest another ILG where they think you'd fit in better. However, if you feel that you've been treated unfairly or cruelly, don't hesitate to file a complaint. The Dean's office and the IFC take rush violations very seriously.
Problems
If you are having problems with your fraternity, talk to the ILG advisor, Neal Dorow (W20-549). He can discuss your options (including depledging) and the merits of each. It is more important to live with as few hassles as possible than to bow to social pressure.
Student House
Student House is an MIT-recognized cooperative coed dwelling. Because it is a cooperative, it costs approximately half the MIT estimate for room and board, a savings of about $2000 a year. Student House often has openings and accepts applications year-round. For more information call, write, or drop by at the House itself (111 Bay State Rd., Boston, 247-0506).
On-campus graduate housing is not easy to get. A new graduate dorm (Edgerton House) on Albany St. opened a few years ago. Hopefully, this and future dorms will ease the burden of graduate housing.
Ashdown House
Procedures for getting into Ashdown House differ considerably from that of other houses. Graduates may apply as soon as they are admitted; so may those already living here and living off-campus. A lottery is held around June 1 to fill the fall vacancies, and a waiting list is set up, from which the top 20 (more or less) people are usually accepted by August 15. After that, the waiting list is abolished and any remaining spaces are lotteried off during R/O Week (watch for notices). The probability of your getting in at the beginning of the spring term is fairly good (apply in December). Once you have a space, you may stay until you finish your studies.
The summer term at Ashdown is considered separately. Even if you start at the beginning of the summer term, you must apply for the June lottery for fall spaces.
Green Hall
Small, all-woman's dormitory. The application procedure is similar to Ashdown's.
Tang Hall
A lottery is held on June 15 to fill vacancies. Chances for getting in are better if occupancy begins during the summer. Apply at the Housing Office (E32-200).
Married Student Housing
MIT housing for married students is in Eastgate and Westgate. The application process for these units is unique. For information concerning this process, the availability of openings, and a description of their physical facilities, consult the booklet entitled Welcome to MIT: A Practical Planning Guide for New Graduate Students, available in the Housing Office (E32-200).
Off-Campus Housing (Apartments)
The housing situation around Boston is bad. Rents are high, quality is low, and tenant rights are not well established. Be careful when looking for housing, and get all the help you can find.
If you think you want to live in an apartment, or even if you already have one, go to the
Ask for A Guide to Security Deposits and Shopping for an Apartment, which are sources of information on the legal and contractual side of renting. Like all OCHS services, it is free to MIT people.
Basically, you will have to:
1. Find an apartment. The OCHS operates a service for helping people find roommates and/or vacant rooms, and they maintain listings of vacant apartments. Plan on checking the lists early and often (like starting in June for a September lease), as the best offerings are taken quickly. There are commercial outfits that can find non-MIT roommates, though OCHS doesn't limit itself to Institute people, either.
2. See the apartment. Sign nothing until you are sure that the apartment is suitable and habitable; don't trust any verbal agreement. Also do not pay for anything before seeing the apartment.
3. Sign an application form and make a deposit. The larger realty companies require this. It is mostly to ensure that you can pay, but they can refuse your tenancy for very simple reasons, such as being a student, although grounds such as race, sex, age, nationality, or possession of children are illegal. Once you sign the application, the landlord can force you to sign the lease, so read the lease first. On the other hand, there is no corresponding obligation for the landlord; he is not under contract until the lease is signed. Don't sign more than one application, or you could be in serious trouble.
4. Sign the lease. If your lease is the standard form of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board, or one of the forms used by several large realty firms, it will be several pages of obfuscatory small print. If you rent from an individual, the form will (hopefully) be short and simple. Read it. If something isn't specified, it will work to your disadvantage, you can be sure, and you may be liable for rent even if it goes up halfway through the year. At the end of the year, you may be forced to rent for another twelve months unless you give notice some specified time in advance. The people who work in OCHS will be happy to examine the lease for you, and explain what the clauses mean and where you may have trouble. A lease is a contract. It can be enforced.
Prices vary widely. Expect to pay at least $800 per month for an entire apartment, although living with roommates can reduce your cost to around $400 per month. You will probably have to make a security deposit of one to two months' rent. Leases usually run from September 1 to August 31, (some from June 1 to May 31) so remember that you are also promising to rent for the following summer. Subletting is legal only if the landlord agrees in writing, in which case you are still responsible to him.
It is also possible to rent furnished rooms (possibly including cooking privileges) by the month or even by the week; such an arrangement is called a Tenancy-At-Will. In this case either side may terminate the lease as long as written notice is given in advance, usually by the rental period plus one day.
The Off-Campus Housing Service is always ready to handle questions and complaints related to off-campus housing. They maintain files on all kinds of relevant information: which of the local schools are worthwhile, official definitions of adequate heat and water, legal problems such as rent control, furniture stores, and rental agencies. They have telephones on which you can call agents and landlords.
Moving
Generally, the difficulties involved in moving from one mode of residence to another are considerable. You can't move from a dorm to a fraternity unless invited. Finding an off-campus apartment can be a hassle, and once you're out of the dormitory system, it's difficult to get back in; it is advisable to think out your moves carefully. Your best resource and authority is Philip Bernard at the Dean's Office (W20-549, x3-6777). Contact him with questions and to settle administrative details.
Within Your Dorm
This is trivial. Consult your house room assignment committee for transfers to vacant rooms. In arranging a swap, make sure you are not violating any priority system.
Between Dorms
The simplest way to transfer between dormitories is a one-for-one switch; find someone in your target dorm to trade spaces with you. This procedure is usually easiest between terms, though you can do it anytime. But note that you may not be able to trade rooms, only spaces --- entering into a dorm as a newcomer, you may go to the bottom of its priority list; check with the room assignment chairperson first.
Changing dorms without a switch is a bit more difficult, the chief constraint being available space. In either case, you will need final approval from the Dean's office.
From an ILG to a Dorm
If you decide during your freshman year that you wish to move from a fraternity to a dormitory, the Institute's housing policy guarantees you a space. After freshman year, there are no guarantees. Check with the Dean's Office (W20-549, x3-6777). If you leave an ILG you must pay whatever you owe them before obtaining a dorm room. You should, in return, expect a proportionate refund from a fraternity at some time of the year --- but the system varies from house to house.
Leaving the Dorms in Midterm
If you get a room in the dormitory system, you are considered financially responsible for that room unless you leave the Institute. In all other cases, a rent refund is not guaranteed; talk to Philip Bernard at the Dean's Office (W20-549, x3-6777). If you withdraw from the Institute you must leave the housing system. During the first 12 weeks of the term, you get a proportionate refund.
Returning to a Dorm
If you want to return to the dorm system after time away from MIT, you should talk to Philip Bernard and apply early. Chances of getting a spot are much better fall term than spring.
If you retain your MIT student status while absent from the Institute (for example, Domestic Year Away), you do not generally lose your place in the dorm system, provided that you notify the proper authorities in advance.
Student Law
Most organized living groups and living group associations (e.g., IFC, Dormcon) have judicial committees, and laws that they enforce. These are student organizations enforcing student rules; consequently their power is limited, though they are backed by higher sources of power. Their regulations are printed and usually given to incoming members of the group. These rules are often quite flexible and subject to waiver for special cases.
If you have received a bad judgment, there are usually several ways to appeal, either within the local system, through the Undergraduate Association or Graduate Student Council Ombudsman, the Dean for Student Affairs Office, or the Committee on Discipline. Usually you should use the appeals procedures of the group involved first before trying any higher power.
Summer Residence
Many people prefer not to go home for the months of June, July, and August. For such people, the situation is far from hopeless. Most dormitories stay open, although they will probably consolidate summer residents to fill one floor or one entry. Be warned that any (noisy) renovations will occur during the summer. This has been particularly a problem for dorms on the east side of campus in recent years. The rest of the space will be filled at times with alumni here for Alumni Weekend, conventioneers, or other visitors. The rent is comparable with the regular rent; all this is explained in a handout that is sent to the dormitories in the spring. Some fraternities offer a better deal. Rather than have the rooms standing empty, they will take in people for the summer at low rents. Others are just as expensive as the dorms. Summer sublets may be available --- check ads and bulletin boards. Make these arrangements early, since cheap sublets and fraternity spaces fill up quickly.