GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Former University of Florida President Ben Sasse spent more than $1.3 million on private catering for lavish dinners, football parties and extravagant social events during his first year in office, according to a report by a student news service.
The amount was about double the amount spent by his predecessor, Kent Fuchs, who was temporarily brought back to lead the university after Sasse announced his resignation in July, according to the report by Fresh Take Florida, a news service of the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications.
Sasse, a former U.S. senator from Nebraska, cited his wife’s health and a need to spend time with family as reasons for his resignation. He plans to teach as a professor at the university.
Fresh Take Florida’s report comes weeks after The Independent Florida Alligator reported that as school president, Sasse gave six former staffers and two former Republican officials jobs with salaries that exceeded comparable positions. Most did not move to Gainesville, Florida, where the flagship university is based, but worked hundreds of miles away.
In total, 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 about the matter.
Last December, Sasse hosted a $176,800 holiday party for about 200 guests who dined on fresh sushi hand-rolled by two hired chefs in addition to established beef, chicken and sweet desserts, Fresh Take Florida reported, citing detailed catering expenses collected under Florida’s public records law.
The bill for the alcohol was over $7,000.
The news service said it was not clear whether the university covered all of Sasse’s catering bill with taxpayer money or through donations.
