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"The University Should be Ashamed"
One Wisconsin state senator is asking about more than just the money after UW-Madison’s report on the failings of its now-former DEI chief.
Sen. Mary Felzkowski, R-Tomahawk, on Friday said there’s a lot to unpack from the report into LaVar Charleston and his spending at the Division of Diversity, Equity and Education Achievement.
“The university should be ashamed, students should be outraged, and taxpayers should be disgusted,” Felzkowski said.
The report explains that Charleston spent millions of dollars on travel, approved raises or bonuses for 85% of his staff, and spent hundreds of thousands-of-dollars on office furniture, electronics, and give-away tchotchkes.
“I am incredibly concerned that the only reason these findings came to light is because of a legislature-initiated audit of DEI practices,” Felzkowski added.
But Felzkowski is also asking about DEI itself at the university.
"As the nationwide DEI racket begins to unravel, it would be unwise to not question why Mr. Charleston felt privileged enough to abuse his position. Would a leader in the accounting department have felt this same privilege?" Felzkowski asked. "As is evident across the DEI scam, funds and efforts to purportedly help underserved populations often end up subsidizing the lifestyles of those at the top. How much of the increased travel expenditures were for Mr. Charleston to join his wife, the Chief Diversity Officer at Harvard?"
The report did not go into those details, but it did note that Charleston’s office spent $14,000 for “Maui lodging costs” for seven students and staff for “recruitment purposes.”
UW-Madison demoted Charleston earlier this year, taking away his $324,000 salary. Charleston continues to make $133,000 as a professor.
Felzkowski said she’s happy to see UW-Madison acknowledge the mistakes that Charleston made, but said she continues to have questions. “I remain incredibly concerned. The scope of the damage that DEI has caused to our country and culture is immeasurable and has had no significant impact on educational outcomes for those it claims to assist,” Felzkowski added.
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