I heard the same thing about assistantships, for painting. I really was not expecting to get offered an assitantship for the first year- it covers it. I guess there is a class offered which after taking it will you'll be set up for teaching/ TA positions. When I visited I met a printmaking grad student who was teaching her own under graduate class, so I guess there's that nice option beyond a TA position. Let me know if you plan on accepting and what you think after your visit! It would be great to know one of my fellow classmates in a place where I know no one. . haha.