If for nothing else, the Undergraduate Student Government Senate can be remembered this semester for being concerned with its money.

The senate is the sole body within USG with the power to allocate money to outside organizations.

In recent weeks, it has provided funding for several groups, including a Professional Golf Management Student Society conference and a Penn State Student Red Cross Club advertisement, while turning down requests to fund the Center for Women Students' "rape cards" and the Lambda Student Alliance's Pride Week.

USG has two accounts, business and unrestricted, USG Treasurer Ashley King said.

Senate can only spend money from the unrestricted account, and the senate president has the power to allocate up to 10 percent of that money without senate's approval. As of last night, Senate had access to a little over $7,500.

King added that senate's concern with how USG spends its money does not have an effect on her job, positively or negatively, but she did notice one difference from past years.

"There's more money in the account than normal," King said.

Senate President Sean Clark said USG has to be careful about which groups it funds, because internal events take priority.

He said the spring elections, without which USG would not be able to function, cost around $6,000 to run.

"We do have to watch the piggy bank, because in the past the piggy bank has run dry," Clark said.

Because all of USG's money is raised internally, Town Sen. Rick Smith said USG is careful about how the group spends its money due to a limited amount of funds.

Last year, the University Park Allocation Committee ran out of money in February, and reforming the body became a project for several senators, including Smith.

"We're trying to make changes within UPAC to make sure UPAC is being fiscally responsible as well," Smith said.

Four proposals were submitted for consideration at the first two UPAC policy meetings next semester.

UPAC can adopt parts of the proposals, Smith said.

They can be entirely accepted, entirely voted down, or certain points can be supported.

UPAC Chair Jason Lane said about half of the money allocated for programming has been spent, leaving the organization in a better position in terms of funds than last year.

"The money is collected from students who are enrolled at Penn State and it should go back to benefit them," Lane said.