Expenditures of Undergraduate Student Government officials received support and criticism from USG senators Wednesday at the organization’s first meeting of the semester.

USG President Duane Sherman presented the senate with an operating budget for fiscal year 1995, which tells how much the organization plans to spend during the year and the dollar amount they have to work with.

Senator Robert Irby said he did not think the budget was as detailed as it should have been.

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It seems kind of simple (the budget), Irby said.

Irby said with some of the criticism and controversy surrounding Sherman’s summer expenditures, it was reasonable to ask that the president supply the entire senate with a list of the money Sherman spent during the summer term.

Sherman used USG funds over the summer to travel to Washington D.C. for what he has said was a further investigation of the United States Student Association. USSA is a student lobbying group which students who voted in a spring 1995 referendum agreed to fund so that USG could become a member.

Sherman has said the Washington D.C. trip was justified because he was able to gather valuable information to help determine the extent of USG’s membership in the lobbying group.

I was strongly advised to make the visit from the outgoing (USG) President Edwin Sawyer, Sherman said. I wanted to evaluate and take a look at their (USSA’s) office to see what they’re doing down there.

Irby said with some of the controversy surrounding the trip and other expenditures, he wanted Sherman to present a list of his summer spending to all senators.

I don’t think it’s an absurd request to see every expenditure, especially after all the controversy, Irby said. I think that’s important. I think every senator should know what we’re spending.

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Sherman said it would be up to the senate to decide if he should present each senator with a list of his expenditures.

This would usually be an item for the Internal Affairs Committee to look into, Sherman said. I guess it would really be up to the senate.

Sherman said all of his expenditures are monitored by the USG executive cabinet as well as Jean Paratore, associate vice president of student affairs.

Jean Paratore makes sure there are no foolish expenditures, Sherman said. I do not make decisions myself on spending money.

Senator Jemal Powell said the senate mandated an audit task force last year to review all USG spending. He asked Sherman if the president planned to enact this task force.

Sherman said if the senate decided to form such a committee, he would not stand in its way.