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Former Student Association president sentenced for stealing money
By Jonathan Anderson
Former Student Association President Russell Rueden was sentenced Friday to one year of probation, a $500 fine and 50 hours of community service for stealing money while in office.
If Rueden violates the terms of probation, he could face five months in the House of Corrections, with an additional 25 days for not paying the fine, and another 25 days for not fulfilling the community service.
Should the sentence be completed within six months, Rueden can ask the court to shorten the probation period.
Despite the prosecutor and Rueden’s defense attorney agreeing to a single $500 fine, Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge William Brash III increased the severity of the sentence, noting that Rueden stole while in a position of trust.
“You are held to a different standard, rightly or wrongly,” said Judge Brash.
Rueden was originally charged with three counts of felony theft and two counts of misdemeanor theft, but agreed to a guilty plea of one count of misdemeanor theft on July 25th.
UWM administration was not able to provide comment as of press time. A call for comment to SA President Tyler Draheim was not immediately returned.
Updated: Sunday, August 17, 2008 6:44 p.m.
Student Association President Tyler Draheim has released the letter he sent to Judge Brash regarding the initial resolution between Rueden and the state. (Read the letter)
In an interview with The UWM Post on Sunday evening, Draheim said he sent the letter because he received word that former Student Association member Christopher Larson, who is now a Milwaukee County Supervisor, was attempting to advocate the court for a tougher penalty against Rueden.
Draheim wanted to make it clear who speaks for the students.
“They don’t speak on behalf of the students,” said Draheim. “We’re the official representatives of the students.”
Draheim also told the Post that the intent of the letter was to encourage an end to the case, not to support a specific punishment.
“If they would have issued a stiffer punishment, I would have supported that too,” said Draheim. “It’s just the fact that there was a resolution and I didn’t want it to be drawn out and more negative on UWM students here.”
A voicemail message left for Christopher Larson, and his aide, were not immediately returned Saturday night.
> Comments
go figure on Aug 15, 2008 at 10:33 PM:
Draheim didn't return calls. his student-paid cell phone might have been turned off. either that or he's on a student paid trip to the hilton in new york...AGAIN. or maybe he's driving his student-paid car to his student-paid parking space on campus. looks like hes gonna be real responsive this year unless he's too busy spending our money on personal items.
Go ASAP! on Aug 16, 2008 at 11:42 AM:
Julio Guerrero >> Tyler 'follower' Draheim >>>>>>> Russ 'crook' Rueden
JUST FACE IT HIPPIES on Aug 16, 2008 at 10:48 PM:
ASAP will never run the SA.
Go ASAP! on Aug 17, 2008 at 12:03 PM:
Julio might be many things but he is not a hippie. Thanks for the incorrect blanket generalization though.
Just Wondering... on Aug 17, 2008 at 02:00 PM:
What do any of these comments have to do with Russ Rueden? It is pretty unfortunate that these comment boards, which were once used for debate on the subject matter of an article have become a venue for anonymous bashing.
Go ASAP! on Aug 17, 2008 at 03:19 PM:
When you have a story about a corrupt thief/student and you start discussing the current student government, his descendants if you will, it is easy to see how this is all related.
Scumbags United for Calamity.... oh well...
Tommy Hughes on Aug 17, 2008 at 04:13 PM:
I wrote the post about informed debate and will gladly respond to the allegations that have been brought up in the preceding comments. Out of the roughly 60 people currently involved in all three branches of SA, I can count only 6 who could even claim to have met Russ Rueden. The fact of the matter is, none of the controversial individuals involved in his administration are involved, or even acquaintances of the current officers in SA (most of whom are new this year, or last year). You could make a much better case, if a case can be made at all by linking members of the current administration with Samantha Prahl (current President Draheim worked the front desk and answered the phone as an office manager during Prahl's administration, not exactly a position which incorporated much controversy, or high level decision making). I can also reassure you that people who have been out of SA for even a few months hold no influence (nor do they care to).
The loopholes in student government which Rueden exploited not only to repeal the results of his own election as a justice of the court, but also the ones involving the President's ability to hold the Court inactive, and to embezzle money have all been taken care of by subsequent administrations. So claiming we are "descendants" of a criminal, who none of us even know is a bit absurd and frankly quite inappropriate and offensive. We are the only student government in the state, which displays budgets online (still to be updated for the '08/'09 school year) and have taken many steps to refute connotations of corruption, these things take time and actual effort.
I would also like to clarify that we have no student paid cell phones/cars/parking spaces. Tyler and I did go to a conference in Boston (the two of us, compared to the twelve last year who went to Manhattan). We spent very few hours away from the conference, and reported on every session we attended to the senate promptly upon our return. I will not refute that the elections this year were a circus, but I do promise that they too will be reformed this year as any broken set of by-laws have been in the past. I realize that writing this will probably not change many minds and will likely only prompt a field day of comments about what a terrible person I am (that I am a fascist or what have you... it's all been said before), and how I was when I co-chaired Senate meetings in SHAC. Say what you will about me, I think it was important for these facts to be brought to the table for discussion. Please feel free to contact me if you have questions or concerns.
Tommy trhughes@uwm.edu
Julio Guerrero on Aug 17, 2008 at 05:15 PM:
I respect that Tommy took the time to write a thorough answer. I also agree that real reform does indeed take time. Obviously, this past election was a circus, but I think we need to give the new executive and legislative branch an opportunity to build their own track record. It is an incredible reach to tie Rueden to the current administration.
I spoke with Kyle Duerstein about this recently and I believe that we need to stop hanging on to the past and look forward to the future. I sincerely believe that the best days at UWM are ahead of us and we need to work together in order to make that happen.
Sincerely,
Julio M Guerrero Co-Chair of ASAP URC/McNair Scholar Milwaukee Phone Bank Coordinator of Advancing Wisconsin
Student Unity on Aug 17, 2008 at 05:52 PM:
Well-said Mssrs. Hughes & Guerrero!
Kyle J. Duerstein on Aug 18, 2008 at 10:44 AM:
Who on earth does Chris Larson think he is to be sticking his nose in this. What a self-righteous prick. This will likely be the only time Larson will ever advocate a stiffer punishment for anyone. In fact, he'll probably spend more time trying to let real criminals...like murderers and rapists and drug dealers out of jail What a hypocrite, and a horrible choice for the County Board. He'll get along great with Gerry Broderick though, another fool. Idiots love company, I guess.
jacob s. on Aug 22, 2008 at 07:43 PM:
dude, russ was my freaking high school debate coach. wow. i can't (yet kinda can) believe this.
all i have to say is that russ was a great person to be around, although he was certainly the most manipulative person i've ever met.
seenightsite on Aug 25, 2008 at 06:07 PM:
steven global tom stay
Sweet Justice on Aug 27, 2008 at 05:36 PM:
Eat it RUSS. Hahahaha
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