Ex-diversity officer faces scrutiny over spending at Wisconsin

The University of Wisconsin-Madison's former chief diversity officer, Lavar Charleston, is under scrutiny for poor judgment and spending. An internal report found he gave unjustified raises of 10% to 23% to staff and spent $18,000 on student massage therapy. Charleston was removed from his position in January but remains a faculty member. His spending on employees was the highest on campus, and he also allocated $21,000 for a conference in Lake Geneva. This investigation occurs amid a broader crackdown on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs by state and federal lawmakers. The Department of Education is examining several universities, including Wisconsin-Madison, for potential racial discrimination in their programs.