GAINESVILLE, Florida — According to a report from a student news service, former University of Florida President Ben Sasse spent more than $1.3 million on private catering for lavish dinners, football games and extravagant social events during his first year at the university.
The amount was about double the expenditures of his predecessor, Kent Fuchs, who was temporarily brought back to lead the university after Sasse announced in July that he would step down. according to the report from Fresh Take Florida, a news service of the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications.
Sasse, a former U.S. senator from Nebraska, cited his wife’s health and the need to spend time with family as reasons for leaving his job. He plans to teach as a university professor.
The Fresh Take Florida report comes weeks after The Independent Florida Alligator reported that as school president, Sasse hired six former staff members and two former Republican officials with salaries comparable to similar positions. Most did not move to Gainesville, Florida, where the main university is located, but worked remotely, hundreds of miles away.
All told, Sasse’s office spent $17.3 million in his first year, compared to the $5.6 million Fuchs spent in his final year. The university has a total budget of $9 billion, the Alligator reported.
A spokeswoman for Sasse said in an email on Friday that she was not authorized to speak on his behalf on the matter.
Last December, Sasse hosted a $176,800 party for about 200 guests. They enjoyed fresh sushi hand-rolled by two dedicated chefs, along with traditional beef, chicken and sweet desserts, Fresh Take Florida reported, citing detailed catering expenses obtained through Florida’s public records law.
The drink bill came to over $7,000.
According to the news agency, it is not clear whether the university covered the costs of all items on Sasse’s catering bill with taxpayer money or with contributions from donors.
