**Wisconsin Badgers Suspend Employee Amid Financial Misconduct Allegations**
The University of Wisconsin–Madison has suspended a staff member from its athletics department following allegations of financial misconduct. The employee, Marcel Dubois, is accused of misusing per diem cards intended for student-athletes to make personal purchases.
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### **Details of the Allegations**
According to a criminal complaint, Dubois, who served as the purchasing coordinator for the athletics department, allegedly used at least 11 per diem cards for personal transactions, totaling over \$7,000. These cards are issued to student-athletes to cover travel expenses. The allegations include 12 counts of unauthorized use of identity information and one count of computer crime ([source](https://www.wmtv15news.com/2024/09/12/uw-madison-athletics-dept-employee-accused-using-per-diem-cards-personal-purchases/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).
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### **University Response**
The University of Wisconsin–Madison confirmed that Dubois is no longer employed by the athletics department. In an official statement, the university said:
“UW Athletics was deeply troubled by these allegations. We have worked closely with law enforcement throughout the investigation and have also reviewed our internal processes. The affected student-athletes have been financially compensated, and the individual involved is no longer employed by UW Athletics.”
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### **Legal Proceedings**
Dubois appeared in court on March 18, where his bail was set at \$500. A plea hearing is scheduled for September 17 in Dane County Court ([source](https://www.wmtv15news.com/2024/09/12/uw-madison-athletics-dept-employee-accused-using-per-diem-cards-personal-purchases/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).
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### **Policy on Financial Misconduct**
The University of Wisconsin’s fiscal misconduct policy defines such behavior as intentional acts that violate laws, regulations, or policies and result in loss or harm to the state or university, or personal gain. Examples include theft of funds, bribery, fraudulent use of credit cards, and falsifying financial documents ([source](https://www.wisconsin.edu/uw-policies/uw-system-administrative-policies/fiscal-misconduct/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).
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### **Conclusion**
The allegations against Dubois cast a shadow over the integrity of the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s athletics department. The university has taken steps to address the issue and compensate affected student-athletes. Legal proceedings will determine the nex
t course of action in the matter.
Will Vala’s recruiting journey has hit warp speed since late January, and his relationship with Nate Letton’s also grown quickly in the last month.
Vala, a three-star recruit who plays for Downers Grove North in Illinois, took an unofficial visit April 5 to watch a University of Wisconsin football team’s spring practice. Letton coaches the Badgers’ tight ends, and fast forward to last week, Vala worked out for the assistant last week.
Those efforts paid off when Letton delivered a Wisconsin offer during an in-home visit.
“It pretty much started, my whole family’s at the table. Mom, dad, brother,” Vala said. “He started off by asking if we had any questions, just about the program, about Madison, any of that, and we didn’t really have a whole lot to say.”
“My dad did, but then he kind of brought it in. He offered me, which was very exciting, especially mom, dad, brother to be there, which usually doesn’t happen with my other ones. But yeah, that was great, and then that kind of opened it up to more questions, more answers from him. And just more of an open conversation, I would say, throughout the rest of the home visit.
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