"We actually go through an internal audit withthe University," said Spencer J. Lee '95, outgoingtreasurer of the 1994 Evening With Champions. "Weare required to keep all our [past] records inUniversity Hall."

That sometimes becomes frustrating, Lee said.

"This year, we did a big mailing based on pastdonors," Lee said. "[With the records] being atUniversity Hall, it makes it difficult--it'sannoyingly inconvenient."

But Lee said he still thinks such stringentcontrols are a good idea.

"The danger isn't, I think, that it's going toreoccur in the short-term, but it could reoccur inthe long term," the outgoing Evening WithChampions treasurer said. But "embezzling largeamounts of money now would be impossible," hesaid.

Administrative Efforts

To combat financial improprieties, Dean ofStudents Archie C. Epps III said last month hisoffice is looking into two remedies: examininggroups' annual reports more closely and offeringbusiness seminars to financial leaders of studentgroups.

For about five years, the Dean of Students'office has required that student organizationsfile an annual financial report in October, Eppssaid. This year, the office "made an effort to beespecially careful" as "the result of our recentexperience with some college groups," Epps said.

"Generally, we're trying to figure out ourrisks," Epps said. "We are trying to find out moreabout the finances so we can then publish a moredetailed set of guidelines about record-keeping,and then recommend controls, such as that thereshould be two signatures on every check."

But Feltman said that the required financialstatements are meaningless.

"We're required to submit a budget which isvery general," Feltman said. "It's kind of ajoke."

On the other hand, Susan S. Kim '96, presidentof the Korean Student Association (KSA), said theorganization submitted an annual report to Epps'office last year that showed KSA was running adeficit.

"They called up and asked how we planned toraise the money," Kim said.

In a more proactive step than collecting annualreports, Epps said his office will offer businessseminars to student groups. The training will notbe mandatory, but a representative must attend ifstudent groups want College funds, he said.

About 10 student groups will participate in apilot program this spring run by accountant JohnA. Tyler.