Despite having a group return excess funds to the ASUO surplus account, the ASUO Senate spent nearly $9,000 Wednesday night on six different groups and organizations.

The largest chunks was given to the Asian Pacific American Student Union, who requested $3,000 to assist a trip to a United States Student Association conference in Washington, D.C. The conference would primarily be attended and taught by students.

The conference would educate attendees about grassroots campaigns and effective lobbying skills.

Sen. Ben Rudin, who noticed the low surplus levels, was against funding conferences because the impact on students of the University of Oregon would not be as widespread as on campus events and because funds were low.

“I’m not fundamentally opposed to conferences at this point in the year; I am categorically against it,” Rudin said.

APASU Director Elizabeth Luh was quick to defend the group’s intentions of going to the event.

“I think a lot of it is about educating ourself. Here we don’t really have an opportunity to reach out and get this knowledge. I think it is also really important to get engaged in national events. We’re gonna try to help people get involved in these issues that they really do care about” Luh said.

Ultimately, the body voted to fund the group by a vote of 9-7-0.

With 11 senate meetings left, some senators are growing weary about the surplus levels. By the end of the meeting, the surplus had dipped to $12,370.35 — roughly $1,100 per meeting.

Putting that number in perspective, spring is usually a very busy time for Senate, and on Wednesday night the smallest request was for $500.