University student senators spent student funds on a dinner at The Smith in the East Village, where they enjoyed food and cocktails, racking up a bill of about $550, after their April 24 meeting.
In a photo posted to Facebook, 11 senators sit around a wooden table at The Smith, a self-described, “American Brasserie.” One senator rests his head against the dark wood paneling under a collage of black and white photos. Other senators grin while treasurer Joseph Kushibab holds up double peace signs and Lang senator Prince Lang sticks his tongue out at the camera.
Three senators told the Free Press that they got the cheapest thing on the menu because senators had agreed not to spend more than $40 per person.
The cheapest main course at The Smith is a $17 Deluxe Burger and the cocktails are $13 each.
Storm Hurwitz, a Lang Senator and USS co-chair, and other senators told the **Free Press** that some of their colleagues went overboard, spending more than the agreed amount by ordering multiple dishes as well as dessert.
The most expensive main course is a $40 filet mignon and the starters range from $12 to $21.
The USS is funded by $8 tax that all students pay along with their tuition every semester. The starting USS budget for the year was $325,621 which included $162,548 of overflow money from the previous year and $163,073 of student tax money.
Senators said they viewed using student money to pay for their dinner as compensation for a year of hard work.
“About $30 to $40 for a year of work is fair,” Hurwitz said.
Other senators agreed, citing the long hours spent at senatorial meetings.
“This is volunteer based and we attend a lengthy, weekly meeting,” co-chair Nico Galván said. “It’s a way to build community within the USS, outside of room 304 [the USS headquarters in the new building].”
According to a senator who did not want to give his name because he feared internal repercussions, the USS debit card was maxed out at the restaurant because the Senate treasurer did not add more funds to the card after the Senate funded a “dinner with your Parsons senators” event. Senators were forced to split the remainder of the check but will be reimbursed by USS funds.
According to Galvan these dinners are usually held at the beginning and end of every semester and have been a tradition since before he became a senator.
The night on the town comes after the USS announced a $31,275 party called #AFTERPARTY that they will throw in the fall using their overflow funds. The party, which will take place at Chelsea nightclub Marquee on September 3 after the annual block party, is a contentious issue among students.
Tamar is a poet, writer, New York-lover and dweller. She studies jounalism+design at The New School.
