MONEY PROBLEMS.

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Author: Bartlett, Thomas

A former dean at the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater has resigned from his faculty position after an audit found that he had misused university funds to cover travel and other expenses.

Lee Jones, 41, was demoted from his position as dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education last fall after the audit was released. Mr. Jones, who was a tenured professor in the College of Education, remained at the university after his demotion. His resignation last week came as the university was in the midst of termination proceedings.

Mr. Jones's lawyer, David E. Lasker, said that Mr. Jones was forced to resign and that he was the victim of a racist conspiracy by university officials to "ruin his career and reputation."

"We emphatically deny that race had anything to do with the steps taken against Mr. Jones," said Sara Kuhl, a spokeswoman for the university.

This was not the first time Mr. Jones had been accused of misspending a university's funds. In 2003, when he was associate dean of education at Florida State University, an auditor questioned Mr. Jones's use of university money for nonuniversity expenses. No report was ever issued, however, and Mr. Jones left Florida State for Wisconsin soon after.

PHOTO (COLOR): Lee Jones

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By Thomas Bartlett