CSU Workers Livin’ Large on Food Cards

While students and parents will be shelling out more for tuition at Colorado State University, university workers continue to buy steak, sushi, bottled water, and other items–all on CSU’s tab. Using university-issued purchasing cards–or A-cards–CSU workers spent more than $60,000 in a single month at places like Sonny Lubick Steakhouse, according to the Fort Collins Coloradoan, citing data obtained using state open-records laws. University workers routinely justified the spending as a way to recruit new students or to impress potential donors. The report comes at a time when the university is grappling with layoffs and a 9 percent hike in tuition. CSU’s new president, Tony Frank, tells the Coloradoan that university spending through the cards deserves more scrutiny. Frank, acting president since Larry Penley’s departure about six months ago, was officially named Penley’s successor last week (via The Colorado Statesman). Meanwhile, tuition increases at large universities, according to the Greeley Tribune, are driving many students to enroll at less expensive and less prestigious colleges.