Illustration by Uy Pham

Whether you’re a freshman who just got here or a senior on your way out the door, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago is confusing. This column exists to let you in on the secrets. 

Did you know SAIC has a student government? I hadn’t heard a thing about them until campaign posters were plastered about the school last April.

What is student government? Who is on the council this year? Why should you care? 

Student government is a small organization at SAIC elected by the student body. Most students won’t directly interact with this group unless they’re a student organization leader, but the student government is capable of making many changes around SAIC, like the new directories in every elevator or the decision to switch cafe vendors.

This year’s government is made up of four students elected last April. Annikah Idovia Godard (BFA 2026) and Mya Jones (BFA 2025), who is the arts editor at F Newsmagazine, are new this year. Returning members include Aalika Bharti (BA VCS 2026) and Ash Shah (BFA 2025). Each member has different platforms to advance with the power that comes from their position.

“Student government should be a small collective that represents the different voices and opinions of an institution,” said Godard.

One key thing the student government is in charge of is club funding. While all student government decisions have an impact on the student populace, their influence on club funding is the most visible to student life. 

Many students took issue with how the government distributed its funds to clubs last year. Half the new government was elected to change the process. Jones joined student government because she felt her club, BLK @ SAIC, wasn’t given proper funding. 

“I got pushback [from the previous student government] because I think student government didn’t have faith [in BLK @ SAIC]. I got cut a couple hundred in funding. I want to infuse more faith into smaller and returning clubs, trust they can do these events and that people will come to their events,” said Jones.

This year’s student handbook isn’t explicit about how much money the student government is given to allocate to student groups, but the 2019-2020 handbook notes that each year, student government gets $45,000 to distribute to student groups based on the “perceived benefit it would provide to the SAIC student body as a whole.” Previous governments looked at club event attendance and gave money accordingly — this is what Jones and Godard seek to change.

Bharti, first elected in 2023, said that student government doesn’t give priority to certain groups over others.

The student government tries to allocate money equally, but it’s also on a first-come-first-serve basis. If they have extra money at the end of the year, it goes towards grant money for students who have graduated. 

Godard is on the same page as Jones. Both are in leadership positions at BLK @ SAIC and good friends. By failing the clubs, Godard feels the government is failing the students and isn’t representing student voices. 

“No one wanted to be a part of the various clubs because of this … it doesn’t make sense to give out all the funds at the beginning, first come first served,” said Goddard.

Shah, (BFA 2025), was first elected in 2023 to drive change at SAIC from within. In her year of office, Shah has noted a disconnect between student’s voices and the actions of the government.

“I hope that this year’s open office hours will help bridge that gap, providing students with a platform to voice their opinions and facilitating better communication between the administration and the student body,” said Shah. 

Student government hosts office hours on the second floor of Sharp to hear student opinions and host budgeting meetings for clubs. This year’s hours are posted on the student government instagram as well as on the door of their office in Sharp on the 2nd floor across from the cafeteria. In addition to office hours, they also plan on doing tabling events for more student outreach.

Student government is where students are supposed to go if they have complaints about the SAIC administration. According to the 2024-25 Student Handbook, student government is in place to “provide a clearly defined structure through which students can provide feedback on SAIC policies and procedures affecting them.”

“Student government does look after clubs, they also look after their students. We are a bridge between students and the higher-ups,” said Bharti. “It’s a little unfair but they listen to Government more than students.”

“Student government gets paid, so make them work for what they’re getting paid for,” said Jones.  

Student government has the potential to create change at the school. If you have an issue with SAIC, you can go to government office hours or email them at [email protected]. 

If you feel more drastic, anyone can be in student government, grad, or undergrad. Students looking to apply can do so via Engage in the spring semester.