During a term in which the Undergraduate Student Government Senate has paid particular attention to fiscal responsibility, the group recently allocated $1,500 to the College Republicans for a club trip.

The College Republicans got $1,500 for the trip, with 35 students expected to attend. In comparison, the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, a USG initiative — which is expected to involve nearly 3,000 people — received $1,600.

Currently, 16 of the 25 members of senate are involved in the College Republicans.

The College Republicans will be traveling to Arlington, Va. on Jan. 30 through Feb. 1 for the Conservative Political Action Conference, an educational convention where Penn State students will be able to hear leading political figures speak on current issues.

Last November, the College Republicans were denied funding for the trip from the University Park Allocation Committee on the grounds that the group would be attending for networking purposes, said Town Sen. and College Republican spokesman Rick Smith.

"That is not true at all," Smith said. "We're going there to learn and we've gone every year for as long as I've been in the club."

The cost of the trip is $55 per person for two nights' lodging. Although there is no registration fee to attend the conference, the College Republicans have asked for money to cover food, gas, and other expenses which they predict could exceed $100 per person.

"The reason why we brought this to USG was because the cost is a little high for some people to go at the moment," Smith said.

However, some representatives questioned the nature of the conference.

"I don't have any problem funding something that's conservative; however, it's just too much money," Town Sen. Bridget Van Osten said at Tuesday night's senate meeting.

"A lot of people sitting around this table are in College Republicans, and it seems like you're sending yourself on a trip," she added.

Senate President Sean Clark, who is a member of the College Republicans, said just because some of those members sit on the senate does not mean they should not get funding for themselves.

"No other organization has approached us for travel funding," Clark said.

David Davis, Black Caucus secretary, said his group would never ask the senate for money because the caucus is convinced they will be denied funding.

"The senate, for the most part, does not accurately represent the student body," Davis said. "I don't think that they are working for the best interest of the students, and therefore, students fear going before them. The senate is not answering its constituents."

Since the current senate has been in office, it has approved thirteen different funding requests, including $1,000 for the Professional Golf Management Students Association for their annual trip to Florida and $1,000 for Coaches vs. Cancer, a USG fundraiser.

However, the senate denied four applications for financial assistance, including a request to help pay for the publication of "rape cards," which offer information for rape victims, and a request to assist Pride Week funding. Pride Week is a span of events sponsored by the Lambda Student Alliance, which the group's Web site describes as a celebration of all sexual orientations. The week includes a rally, educational programs and social events.

"The College Republican trip, in my opinion, is more educational than a gay poetry reading or a rally on Old Main," said Town Sen. Brendan Holloway. "Yes, there are a number of us (senators) going, but the greatest benefit of this trip is that we will be able to bring back better leadership skills to Penn State."