The President of UDC has stepped up to defend spending on what a Fox 5 media report called "luxury trips."
"The Fox 5 story insinuated that the costs of my compensation and expenses were being born by the District of Columbia taxpayer," University of the District of Columbia president Allan Sessoms said in letter released Wednesday. "That is untrue."
WTTG reported thar Sessoms took high-priced trips to places like San Antonio, Los Angeles, and Egypt, and then charged the expenses to UDC, which is a public university.
According to the report, a one way flight to Egypt cost $7,952, and a round trip ticket to San Antonio cost $2,229.
"The receipts in the story were taken out of context and do not fully address the purpose and nature of each trip, as well as any extenuating circumstances surrounding the travel," Sessoms wrote in his response. He said that his visit to Egypt was on official business to visit a branch of UDC, located in Cairo. Sessoms said that as a president, his role is to visit numerous academic symposiums around the country to "build the institution's reputation."
The president said that his travel expenses were not paid for by taxpayer money, but from revenue generated by the university.
Sessoms is expected to be at a D.C. Council oversight committee meeting next Tuesday.
