Student accused of misusing school funds

NEW YORK, April 25 (UPI) -- The president of New York University's student council has become embroiled in a controversy about her decision to pay a relative to speak at the school.

NYU officials are investigating Meredith Dolgin for possible misuse of school funds through her position as student council president after the 21-year-old paid her grandmother $2,200 to speak at a symposium, the New York Post reported Wednesday.

A spokesman for the university said the allegations, which also include election tampering, made against Dolgin by her fellow council members are too serious to ignore.

"The questions raised so far are troubling, and we take them seriously," spokesman John Beckman said. "I can't think of any time something like this has come up before in my more than 10 years here."

Dolgin met with school officials during an emergency council session on Tuesday, but ultimately stormed out of the meeting after being accused of incorrectly handling recent council elections.

The Post said Dolgin maintained that she presided over the elections properly and refused to carry out a new round of elections.