FGCU sorority at odds over credit card use

FORT MYERS, Fla. Florida Gulf Coast University’s Chi Omega sorority is missing $7,000, and some members are blaming their former chapter president.

Former chapter president Natalie Susanne Benson admitted that she had misused the chapter’s credit cards in April 2016, several sorority sisters said. Benson agreed to pay back the money but has only returned $580, according to those sisters.

Current sorority president Montana Knight and chair member Abby Lohmann filed a report with the university police department on March 31. They stated that their sorority treasurer discovered that most of the money was still unaccounted for.

Benson denied any wrongdoing and has threatened legal action.

“The accusations made within the report are false,” Benson said in a statement. “I do have documentation to prove so. Any action that has been given at this point because it is not true is slander and further slander people will be held accountable for it.”

Chi Omega board conducted an investigation last year and had “personal meetings” with with Benson at the time she admitted to the theft, according to the university police report.

Benson later resigned from her position as chapter president and Chi Omega membership following the initial investigation, the university report showed.

Her $580 payment raised questions about her culpability.

“I don’t know why she paid back $500 if she didn’t do it,” said Lauren Korecki, an FGCU student who isn’t a member of the sorority.

The university confirmed that it’s investigating the issue but declined to elaborate.