UW-Madison leader stands by removal of diversity director over spending
Then this month, in response to records requests from the Cap Times and other news outlets, UW-Madison released dozens of pages of documents from an internal financial review. The documents outline administrators’ findings and Charleston’s rationale for spending. Spreadsheets detail salary costs, travel and other expenses from the division.
Although Charleston didn’t break state law or violate university policies, “he demonstrated poor financial judgement,” Rob Cramer, UW-Madison’s vice chancellor for finance and administration, wrote to Mnookin and Provost Charles Isbell Jr. on March 12.
“Perhaps most concerning is the totality of financial choices, including highly atypical and excessive spending across multiple dimensions — from bonuses to compensation adjustments to travel, supplies and furnishing. … It was also problematic that when these concerns came to light, Dr. Charleston lacked important documentation to support many of these decisions,” Cramer added.
When Mnookin met with University Committee members Monday, faculty member Michael Bernard-Donals asked how the chancellor would respond to potential criticism about her decision. If Charleston didn’t violate policies or the law, what was Mnookin’s justification for removing him? And how did Charleston’s choices differ from other unit supervisors on campus?
