Ex-UF President Ben Sasse spending on catering included $38,610 sushi bar

GAINSEVILLE — The University of Florida’s then-president, Ben Sasse, dished out over $1. 3 million on private catering for lavish dinners, football tailgates and social functions — a figure roughly double the amount spent by his predecessor and one that included a holiday party featuring a $38,610 sushi bar. At the Dec. 7 holiday party, Sasse hosted guests who dined on fresh sushi hand-rolled by two chefs alongside dishes of beef, chicken and desserts. The event, detailed in a newly released list of more than 500 itemized catering expenses obtained under Florida’s public records law, cost $176,816, or roughly $900 per person.

The guest list that night included UF’s top brass and officials with the university’s fundraising foundation, who solicit checks for education programs from donors. The bill for the liquor was listed as $7,061. Sasse’s yuletide soirée was the largest single expenditure — nearly 15% of his total catering spending — until he [abruptly resigned in July](https://www. tampabay. com/news/education/2024/07/18/ben-sasse-resignation-university-of-florida-president/) after 17 months in office.

The new details about his catering costs add to disclosures about his office’s multimillion-dollar spending on consulting contracts and about [remote jobs he awarded to Republican former staffers and allies](https://www. tampabay. com/news/education/2024/08/14/sasse-spent-millions-hiring-gop-allies-uf-president-report/). Sasse did not immediately respond to questions emailed to him about his catering expenses. Sasse — paid a [base salary of $1 million](https://www.

tampabay. com/news/education/2024/08/26/sasse-keep-1-million-salary-uf-until-2028/) plus a performance bonus of up to $150,000 each year — spent nearly double the amount on catering compared to his predecessor, Kent Fuchs, who agreed last month to return as interim president until next summer. Sasse spent $906,342 on catering during his first year in office, compared to Fuchs spending an average of $476,892 annually over his eight-year term — not including a pandemic-era drop. It was not immediately clear whether UF covered the costs for all the items on Sasse’s catering tabs using taxpayer dollars or donor contributions. The university enforces rules requiring — even for pizza parties in classrooms — only the use of approved caterers that it says meet requirements for liability, health inspections and business insurance.

It also enforces rules against using state funds to buy alcohol and against using other UF funds unless alcohol is purchased from and served by an approved caterer or restaurant. UF warns employees that “every effort must be made” to keep meal and drink costs for meetings with donors, prospective hires or other officials under $75 per person. The December holiday party was 12 times higher. “Employees of the University of Florida are expected to be good stewards of university funds,” the rules say.