SAIC Student Life Viewbook 2023/34

WE'RE HERE TO HELP

ACADEMIC ADVISING

Provides partnership, support, resources, and advocacy to students navigating SAIC’s interdisciplinary curriculum, course concerns, and personal issues.

312.629.6800 studenthelp@saic.edu

COUNSELING SERVICES

Provides brief counseling and psychotherapy, crisis intervention, consultation, and referrals to students in need of mental health support.

312.499.4271 counselingservices@saic.edu

CAMPUS

LIFE

Supports community engagement by sponsoring school-wide events and assists students in connecting to one of our 70+ student groups.

312.899.7439 stulife@saic.edu

CAREER AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (CAPX)

Empowers students to build lasting creative careers through 1:1 advising, internship and employment opportunities, and dynamic workshops and events.

312.499.4130 careers@saic.edu

DISABILITY & LEARNING RESOURCE CENTER

Provides services for students with disabilities to facilitate equal access and support success in and out of the classroom.

312.499.4278 dlrc@saic.edu

HEALTH SERVICES

Delivers medical care for illness and injuries and referrals to off-campus treatment providers.

312.499.4288 healthservices@saic.edu

HOUSING & RESIDENCE LIFE

Builds community and provides support for SAIC’s residence hall students through programming, RA outreach, and residential services.

312.629.6870 reslife@saic.edu

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Provides guidance, advocacy, and resources in support of international students; provides study abroad opportunities via study trips and semester away programs.

312.629.6830 intaff@saic.edu

MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS

Promotes diversity, equity, and inclusivity within the community through heritage month programming, the Cultural Oasis: A space by and for students of color, and through individual student services.

312.629.6880

maffai@saic.edu

KOREAN AND CHINESE ADVISING

Provides support for Korean and Chinese students in their adjustment to SAIC, navigating resources, and building communities through various programs and outreach.

312.629.6800

ccha@saic.edu

saic-csl@saic.edu

STUDENT SUPPORT

Assists students with a wide-range of issues and concerns that might arise during their time at SAIC.

312.629.6800 studenthelp@saic.edu

LIVING ON CAMPUS

A COMMUNITY OF ARTISTS. SPECTACULAR VIEWS. NOT YOUR ORDINARY COLLEGE LIVING EXPERIENCE.

SAIC’S RESIDENCE HALLS PUT YOU IN THE HEART OF CHICAGO, AROUND THE CORNER FROM ACADEMIC BUILDINGS AND CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS, WITH CREATIVE SUPPORT CATERED TO YOUR NEEDS AS A VISUAL SCHOLAR.

“I was really just figuring out what my art practice was going to be…so living in a space of artists was really helpful.”

Hayan Song, SAIC Student, Visual Communication Design

WILSON ALLEN, ILLUSTRATION LIVING ON CAMPUS

Where are you from originally?

The biggest chunk of my life was spent in Thompson, Georgia — a town of about 5,000. I was also 100% home schooled, so Chicago was quite a transition!

Did living in the residence halls help you adjust to SAIC and Chicago?

Part of why my transition to Chicago worked was having Resident Advisors (RAs) — upper class students whose job is to live with and assist first years. At SAIC, they’re very involved, which is also one of the reasons I eventually decided to become a Resident Advisor myself.

What’s it like living in the halls?

The end goal is creating community in the dorms, so you aren’t only hanging out with people you know — you’re stretching and learning about different things. Exploration, new things, and new people is the point of the school.

CONNECTING WITH OTHERS

At social events in the res halls, you meet other people. You’re having that social connection, so you’re not just in your dorm, going to class, and coming back. I think that’s really important.

LIVING ON CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS

» Loft or apartment-style spaces containing:

» Private bathrooms

» A kitchenette with stove, full-size refrigerator, and microwave

» Wireless internet

» Full-time, live-in professional staff and student resident advisors

» 24-hour studio spaces

» Lounge facilities

» 24-hour security & ID card access

LIVING ON CAMPUS INTRODUCES YOU TO NEW FRIENDS, AND PROVIDES PROGRAMMING TO GET YOU ADJUSTED TO THE INS AND OUTS OF SAIC AND CHICAGO:

Siragusa Student-run Gallery — Exhibit your work in the Siragusa Gallery located in the 162 N. State St. Residence Hall

Karaoke — Show your skills!

Chicago Thrift — Visit Chicago’s best thrift spots

Apple Picking — Keep in touch with nature & enjoy some yummy apples

Family Game Night — Play classic board and card games with friends

DINING

AT SAIC, YOU’LL EAT WELL IN OUR CAMPUS CAFES

SHOWCASING FRESH MENUS DESIGNED TO PROMOTE HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE EATING

UTILIZING LOCAL, ORGANIC, AND FAIRTRADE FOODS WHENEVER POSSIBLE.

Each café offers something different, from select-your-own stir-fry to a baked potato bar. All students living in the residence halls have a declining-balance meal plan. Use it at any of our three cafés for everything from a cup of coffee to an à la carte feast.

CHICAGO IS A TOWN FOR FOODIES – YES, WE ARE KNOWN FOR OUR PIZZA AND HOT DOGS! HOWEVER, THE DIVERSITY OF OUR CITY MEANS THAT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPERIENCE GREAT FOOD FROM AROUND THE GLOBE!

OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING IS A GREAT WAY TO CONNECT WITH THE CITY IN A NEW WAY.

Chicago is an extremely commuter-friendly city with trains and buses connecting you to our campus. And with 77 neighborhoods to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect spot for your interests and budget.

NOT SURE WHERE TO START?

A CITY OF NEIGHBORHOODS GETTING AROUND CHICAGO

Our Residence Life office offers a variety of services to help you find and transition into a new home off-campus.

WITH THE SECOND LARGEST PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IN THE U.S., GETTING AROUND THE CITY IS EASY.

SAIC’s campus is next to several train stations (Chicago’s famous ‘L’ trains), providing fast access to all of Chicago’s landmarks and neighborhoods.

Full-time SAIC students purchase a highly discounted “Ventra U-Pass” which allows unlimited use of CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) train and bus services for the fall and spring semesters.

EAT. PLAY. LEARN.

THE LEROY NEIMAN CENTER

RELAX AND GET INSPIRED

THE NEIMAN CENTER OFFERS A SPACE TO UNWIND, GRAB A BITE, AND CONNECT WITH THE SAIC COMMUNITY.

From artist skill shares to film screenings , visiting artists to exhibitions , there’s always something to do on campus. With a street-level gallery visible to thousands of Chicagoans every day, you have the opportunity to showcase your work in a big way.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, ANTI-RACISM AT SAIC

We want every member of our community to feel like they belong. At SAIC this requires work at every level to make sure our campus is a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist one. SAIC formed the Anti-Racism Committee (ARC) as part of this work to address how systemic racism manifests at SAIC and design solutions to improve the lived experiences of all members. In coordination with this campuswide effort, here are some of the ways we and our community members are coming together to help build an inclusive, accepting, and compassionate atmosphere.

IDENTITY GROUPS

A way to build community is through affinity- and identity-based groups. By being involved in affinity groups, you can meet others who share your identity, culture, or have similar experiences. These student-led groups are shaped by our identities, including race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, spirituality, gender and sexuality. Here is a sample of some of the student affinity groups.

» BLK@SAIC

» Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA)

» Coalition for Black Restorative Artists (COBRA)

» Hapa, Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islanders (HAAAPI)

» Indigenous Student Assocation

» Intervarsity Christian Fellowship

» Korean Graduate Student Community

» Korean Student Association (KSA)

» Namaste SAIC

» National Organization of Minority Architecture Students (NOMAS)

» Organization of Asian Artist Propagation (OAAP)

» SAIC Trans Artist Coalition

» SAIC UNIDXS

» Saudi Student Association

» South East Asian Community

Go to saic.edu/life-at-saic/ multicultural-affairs/studentresources to learn more.

CULTURAL PROGRAMS

Holidays and special events are a time to come together, celebrate, promote cultural awareness, and share our traditions. Here are a few of the events you can expect each year.

» LUNAR NEW YEAR: Celebrate the Lunar New Year with dancing, music, food, games, and activities.

» DIWALI: The Festival of Lights, hosted by Namaste, features group dances, lanterns, story-telling, and food.

» HERITAGE MONTH PROGRAMS: Over the course of the year, the community organizes events in honor of national heritage months. A few of the programs from this year include: Latinx Heritage Month; Native American Heritage Month, Black Heritage Month, Women’s History Month, Asian, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and Pride Month.

» THE CULTURAL OASIS: A SPACE BY AND FOR STUDENTS OF COLOR: Located in Sullivan 1425, the Cultural Oasis is a space designed by students of color as a dedicated place for students of color to meet, relax, recharge, and create community. The Cultural Oasis hosts a variety of programs that center the narratives of students of color and promote cultural diversity and inclusion.

Erin Armstrong Carrying Quilt (detail)

Artist’s bed linen, pillow stuffing,

cotton, acrylic yarn, batting, embroidery

floss, crayon, pen and ink, cotton

cording, found fabric, and felt

2021

ASIYA TOORAWA, FIBER AND MATERIAL STUDIES GETTING INVOLVED AT SAIC

Getting involved is crucial to the SAIC experience. Where have you chosen to get involved?

I’ve been involved all over. I worked with Residence Life, the International Affairs staff, and I’m currently actively involved on the Student Programming Board, which is a subset of student government that plans school-wide programming events like the Halloween Ball.

You founded a new SAIC group?

Yes, I founded Muslims of SAIC because there was a Hillel, Korean Student Association, and Chinese Student Association, all these different groups and I thought why not just take the initiative and make a group?

How has your campus activity impacted your development at SAIC?

It’s opened up a lot more social networks and made me more comfortable in the space. Networking is such a big part of art school, and I’ve set up my own personal networks with professors, school administration, and friends. It’s really made me appreciate the school so much more.

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

LOOKING TO MAKE AN IMPACT AT SAIC? WE KNOW JUST THE WAY.

As part of Student Government, you’ll act as the face of the student body, planning and facilitating grants, supporting student groups, collaborating with SAIC leadership to improve the student experience, and so much more.

PAST STUDENT GOVERNMENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

» Created a student leadership scholarship

» Created the Idea Generation Grant to fund student-based projects

» Established a speaker series called The Uncanon that highlights up-and-coming artists of color

STUDENT PROGRAMMING BOARD

Members of SPB serve as programming ambassadors and community builders. Annual programs include the Halloween Ball, Drag & Burlesque Show, and De-Stress Week programming. SPB also host a variety of other programs, including Bingo, Trivia Night, film screenings, and trips around the Chicagoland area.

NUVEEN CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL

STUDENT LEARNING

Located on the 16th floor of the 162 North State Street Residences, the Nuveen Center provides resources and events for all campus residents.

The Nuveen Center offers programs designed to support the international student population at SAIC as well as encourage all students to learn about and share their cultural experiences and connect with fellow residents.

YASH RASTOGI, PRINTMEDIA BEING A STUDENT LEADER

How have you gotten involved at SAIC?

I originally got involved in Namaste, which promotes artistic, social, and cultural events, in order to feel closer to home. However, I eventually saw it as a great opportunity to spread cultural diversity throughout the SAIC community.

I’m also active in SAIC AIGA, which creates a thriving design community through artist talks, studio visits, and workshops. It started out as a way to spend time with like-minded people, but became a great way to nerd out about something I love to do: design.

Tell us about your leadership roles.

As the President of Namaste and SAIC AIGA, I secure funding and plan events. People management is exciting since everyone handles situations differently. Learning how to motivate my team is the best part.

Any other favorite student groups?

SAIC Swing Dance Club! I like to swing dance.

Your advice to new students?

Work hard, be nice to everyone, and go to The Green Mill jazz bar (when you turn 21, of course)!

SHELLEY DAVIS, SCREENWRITING GROWING AT SAIC

How have you gotten involved on campus?

I’m a student leader for Hillel and a Senior Orientation Leader. Hillel creates a space for Jewish and non-Jewish students to engage in dialogue and activities that express Jewish values. I love when students from entirely different backgrounds participate in discussions and events – it fosters a welcoming and educational experience that connects students from all over the world.

What’s the most important thing you’ve learned as an artist from your time at SAIC?

The most important thing that SAIC has taught me is that, as an artist, it’s ok to fail. In fact, it’s

more than ok to fail – it’s an achievement. I would never have believed that before SAIC, but failure will only lead to success. The art-making process involves figuring out what’s not working, whether it’s conceptual or technical, and learning from those mistakes.

If you could give a new student one piece of advice, what would it be?

Try and learn everything you can. Don’t know how to work in the wood shop? Learn how. Don’t know how to sew? Learn how. Don’t know how to make a 3D animation? Learn how. SAIC’s curriculum is interdisciplinary for a reason. Take advantage of it. There is no other place like this.

STUDENT GROUPS

WITH MORE THAN 60 STUDENT GROUPS TO CHOOSE FROM, YOU’LL HAVE PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES.

AIGA (AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF GRAPHIC ARTS)

AIAS (AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS)

BLK@SAIC CHESS CLUB

DIGITAL POTTERS COLLECTIVE

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS

MOUTH MAGAZINE

INDIGENOUS STUDENT ASSOCIATION

PARLOR ROOM (PHOTO GROUP)

SAIC HILLEL

SAIC CLIMBING CLUB

SAIC CODING CLUB

SAIC MODERN DANCE CLUB

SAIC TRANS ARTIST COALITION

SPORTS@SAIC THE ART THERAPY COLLECTIVE

TRANSFER STUDENT CLUB

XEROX CANDY BAR (COMIC ZINE)

VISIT ENGAGE.SAIC.EDU FOR A FULL LIST OF STUDENT GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR DESCRIPTIONS.

HAVE A GREAT IDEA FOR A NEW GROUP? AWESOME! WE’LL HELP YOU MAKE IT HAPPEN.

TRY SOMETHING NEW

F NEWSMAGAZINE

COLLABORATE ON AN AWARD-WINNING MONTHLY STUDENT PUBLICATION.

Written, designed, and edited entirely by SAIC students, F Newsmagazine publishes student writing and art — reviews, art criticism, comics, news, and commentary on the school, popular culture, and politics. Freelancers are paid for their writing, video,

FREE RADIO

GIVE YOUR IDEAS A VOICE ON SAIC’S INTERNET RADIO STATION.

Free Radio SAIC is a student-run open-programming format that encourages new and experienced DJs to explore and experiment with live radio. Whatever you’ve got to offer, Free Radio SAIC wants it. Music. Sound art. Narratives. Interviews. Feel like talking about your favorite cats for an hour? The airwaves are yours.

Listen at: free radio

SITE GALLERIES

SITE IS A CO-LEARNING ORGANIZATION WHERE KNOWLEDGE IS SHARED BETWEEN STUDENT STAFF AND EXHIBITING ARTISTS.

SITE Galleries is a student-run organization at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) for the exhibition of student work. The student-led structure provides opportunities for emerging artists and scholars to explore artistic and administrative methods by placing emphasis on collaborative processes and professional practice in and out of the classroom.

See saic.edu/sitegalleries for more information.