Information for Parents

or return to the [ ABOUT WILG ] page.

What is WILG?

Our house consists of 40 female members who work together to make sure that the house stays clean, our bills get paid, and dinner is cooked every night. Beyond everyday maintenance, we organize social events and community service projects.

So is WILG a sorority?

No, we are a non-Greek house that does not have a national organization. We are supported by our Corporation, hundreds of alumni, and the MIT administration. We have no initiation period, no mandatory social events, and our members only have to learn about our history if they're interested.

Why would my daughter want to live at WILG instead of the dormitory system?

Living at WILG teaches our members independence, responsibility and leadership. Our house also provides a support system where our members know and trust each other; we're not just hall mates. Each new member chooses an "Old Wise One," an upperclassman who helps them adjust to life at the house and MIT.

If freshmen can't move into WILG, why should they join as a non-residential member?

Not only are our non-residential members considered full-members, they are actively involved in house meetings, social events and house retreat. Our house has a non-residential room with a fully-stocked fridge where they can study, spend the night, or relax after a tough day.

Is WILG safe?

The security of our house is a top priority. All entrances to our building have a combination keypad, emergency exits are also alarmed. All first floor doors and windows are checked each evening to ensure they are closed and locked. House members are notified when they have visitors, this system ensures that unknown persons are not admitted into the house.

Is the Central Square neighborhood safe?

Massachusetts Ave. is a busy street with lots of people, restaurants and stores. The number 1 bus goes straight to campus and stops right outside our door, and the MIT Saferide shuttle is available from 6pm to 3am. The MIT Campus Police Station is two blocks from our house and officers regularly patrol our area; the Cambridge Fire Station is directly across the street. Given these resources, our house members feel extremely safe.

I'm afraid my daughter will be secluded from campus and male students?

As one member says "We like boys, we just don't want to share bathrooms with them." Our house is only a 7 minute walk from campus, and there are two MIT fraternities and a dormitory a few blocks away. Our members are very involved in campus organizations and our house hosts open social events and mixers with other living groups, so we never feel secluded from other students.

Who can I contact if I have more questions?

Please e-mail our rush chairs at wilg-rush[at]mit.edu with any concerns. We can also put you in touch with parents of house members, our residential advisor, or our faculty advisor.