F Question

Recent budget difficulties at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago have raised eyebrows and the administration’s solutions have some seeing red.

Seeing as how SAIC is a creative institution, what inspiring ideas do students and faculty have to help cut the deficit — by instituting a B.Y.O. toilet paper policy? Charging tourists a fee to watch critiques? Eliminating the costly need for trash cans and trash can liners by just putting garbage up on gallery walls? F News asked the school community for their proposed budget cutting measures.

In response to this, I am actually quite amazed that this school is having budget difficulties! I noticed that the dorm rooms were furnished with trash cans and liners AND toilet paper, which wasn’t something I had been expecting, in addition to the plastic mattress cover which was, in short, strange. I had brought my own trash can, reused plastic grocery bags as garbage can liners, bought toilet paper, and a mattress cover. I was impressed with the school’s accommodations, but I also think a lot of it is unnecessary. Students should buy their own toilet paper, mattress covers, and trash cans (with liners!) ... There should also be a conservation policy of water in the morning since so many people like taking morning showers!!!

—Pearl Lasky, Undergrad

The lights being left on in classrooms and offices when they are not in use are wasting a great amount of electricity. Turning those lights off after class is over would be an obvious, easy, and painless way to save some money and conserve resources. I urge facilities management to calculate hourly use and cost of electricity per average classroom in the Sharp building. These figures should then be forwarded to administration, departments, staff and faculty, with an urgent plea to turn off the lights.

—Daniel Morgenthaler, Faculty, VisCom

Hopefully, the engineering staff could balance the HVAC system in the Columbus Drive Building. Many of us are wearing sweatshirts inside when it’s 85 degrees outside. The fact that the air conditioning is freezing the air rather than just cooling it has to be a huge waste of money.

—Linda Swift, Undergrad, Photography

I think the budget crisis could be all but eliminated if they just turned down the f*cking air conditioning.

—Stephanie Seagle, Third Year, Performance

My idea to help overcome the budget problems is one that doesn’t seem that extreme. SAIC should stop repainting every bathroom wall, stall, and interior space that has graffiti on it. Every day there seems to be a fresh coat here or a fresh coat there. Now for a school that opened its doors to graffiti artists and constantly reminds us that art is subjective, it seems to me that this is a form of censorship and an oxymoron to the teaching philosophies they push upon us. If students want to act immature and emblazon their logos on the school walls, go ahead and let them knock themselves out. At the same time, the school should buy stock in Sharpies and paint markers and watch their profit margins soar. Seems to me that this could be a win-win situation for everyone.

—Rich Greene, Senior, Interdisciplinary

I would be delighted to submit my ideas. Rather than being negative (budget cutting), they are income-generating. Here are two:

1) The gift shop could market a calendar with selected student work from the BFA and MFA shows. They could also be sold over the Internet. There could be several versions to maximize the variety and opportunity for student exposure. Would they sell? I want to order 10 right now! Currently, there are just so many Monets and O’Keeffes, and more cute kitties than I can stand.

2) I think my idea is worth a try. But if all else fails, give Jim McManus $4000 and send him to the poker tournament. Worked last time!

—Jim Christopher, faculty, Liberal Arts and Sciences

Eliminate the entire first year program. It was a waste of time and money when I did it, and I’m sure it still is. Also, let’s raise the admission and academic standards of this school, which battles with the Rhode Island School of Design each year for the title of top art school in the country. SAIC currently accepts students with an ACT score of 20 and a verbal score on the SAT of 500. The Illinois state average for the ACT is 21. Let’s be competitive with real colleges and universities, and maybe someday we will have rich alumni donors who will actually do something noteworthy in the art world and have the generosity to prove it.

—Gwendolyn Zabicki, Junior, VCS

SAIC being a reactive and “progressive” school, I think that small practical things can be applied to the school’s maintenance. Examples would be minimizing water costs by installing automatic faucets. Reducing paper usage by installing electric hand driers and smart toilets that use a minimum of water. Lights that turn off when nobody is using them. Small, practical things like this would make a huge difference, and with some brainstorming I believe more building maintenance, cut backs can be made.

—Christian Foster, Junior, Architecture/Art History, Theory, and Criticism

Sell the buildings SAIC is not using, or better yet, rent them out to yuppies or start a hotel.

—Anonymous

SAIC should claim residuals of all tourist dollars coming into the city as a result of Chicago’s “cultural vibrancy.” I do not think we would have any problem proving authorship of this vibrancy, if pressed.

—Ethan Roeder, Alum

We could have classes outside and rent out all of the school’s real estate, thus paying off mortgages and saving utility costs. Chicago is so lovely in the winter ...

Or another “restructuring” program, where we do away with classes altogether.

—Heather Cramond, Grad student, Writing

We could contract with a recycling company such that they would haul away (for free) our recyclable garbage AND possibly pay a nominal fee for the good stuff. It’s good for SAIC (perhaps reduce garbage hauling expenses and make a small bit of change) AND we get to help sustain the environment!

—Kendra Coleman, Director of Multicultural Affairs