Continuing the Tradition
Today, the Women's Building continues to function as a central site for student engagement and exchange. Several minority affinity groups, including the Muslim Student Association and the Association of Black Students, are housed within the building's suites, where the living-room-style suites allow the organizations to gather and organize their cultural events. These cultural events hosted by the MSA and ABS have consistently been popular among students and faculty, allowing the WashU community to engage with other cultures and learn more about historically marginalized groups. The Office of International Student Engagement is also located within the Women's Building, offering a space for international students to feel welcome and supported, while also providing a physical space for international students to present their cultures to other students. Mirroring the building's original intent for women, these spaces within the Women's Building ensure that modern student communities have dedicated areas to organize, host events, and share cultural perspectives. This intentional designation of space fosters a sense of ownership and permanence, allowing groups to actively participate in shaping campus life and dialogue.
The Women's Building's historical role in providing a safe space for different groups and people to converse with and truly engage with other perspectives contributes to Washington University's dedication to know each individual "by name and by story."6 From its origins as a space for women to its role in supporting student media groups and housing student affinity groups, the Women's Building shows that creating spaces dedicated to dialogue and communication is necessary to establishing the welcoming and inclusive campus community that Washington University in St. Louis strives to realize.
6 “What We’re Looking For.” Undergraduate Admissions, Washington University in St. Louis, 2025, https://admissions.washu.edu/how-to-apply/what-were-looking-for/.