Not everyone can say they have challenged a prominent city official or experienced discrimination for being a minority. In Glenn Rashad Younger's life, these events and more have shaped who he is today.

Younger, 21, is a College of Communication senior. Because his father's name is also Glenn, his friends and family call him by his middle name.

He is the president of Marquette's Black Student Council, but this October, he received a call to duty outside his work on campus.

According to the Oct. 12 to Oct. 14 issues of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker received a request from Gov. Jim Doyle to supply wards in the city of Milwaukee with more ballots for the presidential election. Each voter is allowed up to three ballots in the event of making mistakes when voting. Walker, fearing voter fraud, said no, but some Milwaukee residents felt he was trying to suppress the minority vote.

Walker "denied the city's request for more ballots, (of) which we're assured," Younger said. "Each person that was voting in this election should be able to have a chance to vote and if they make any mistakes, the Constitution protects their right to have three ballots."

The president of Milwaukee Area Technical College's black student council contacted Younger about combining forces to protest Walker's action.

After planning and organizing, Marquette and MATC students protested at an Oct. 13 town hall meeting, where Younger spoke up for first-time voters.

"We chanted, I argued and stated my point and let him know that there were a lot of first-time voters that were going to be participating in this election," Younger said. "We felt that it was important to make sure we had those extra ballots, because you never know who's going to make mistakes."

Black Student Council member Darick Spears, 22, a College of Communication senior, attended the protest and said he was impressed with how Younger handled the situation.

"He played his part as Black Student Council president, and he spoke up when reporters came," Spears said. "He was knowledgeable and he represented the Black Student Council very well."

Spears said protestors were almost locked out of the meeting, but were later allowed inside. Eventually, bowing to public and administrative pressure, Walker supplied more ballots.

"It just showed me how politics works," Younger said. "You have to stand up for what you believe in and don't let elected officials walk over you. They work for us."

Younger said the events matched the fight he has fought his entire life. The Denver, Colo., native said he attributes his strength to the racism, harassment and discrimination he experienced as a black male.

"I never understood what racism was until I went through it," Younger said.

As a child in a mostly white elementary school, Younger said he would pick fights with people in an attempt to keep them from picking a fight with him.

"I had this hate in me and it turned into violent acts," Younger said. "I felt like I was getting picked on for so, so long by so many different people that I lashed out and I built a reputation from where I was nobody to someone who was basically the school bully."

Younger said elementary school was a constant battle with white teachers and students, but his parents understood him.

The principal called his parents one day to "discuss Rashad's behavior," but his father suggested they talk about the principal's racist behavior.

Younger said he will never forget how his father stood up for him, even if he was partially wrong.

In middle school, Younger said he became more passive with racist or ignorant people. He said he vented his emotions through poetry, ranging from love letters to feelings about being discriminated against and even harassed.

When he arrived at Marquette, Younger said getting involved and helping his community became a big part of his life. He said he wants to start his own business and continue to reach out to minorities.

He said students should respect the similarities and differences of humankind.

"We all go through pain, frustration, hate. We experience the same feelings and emotions," Younger said. "No one should consider themselves better than someone. If something comes to you, why not be open-minded to it? Don't live in the box. We're all unique individuals."

Denny Sempasa, a sophomore in the College of Arts & Sciences, said Younger is one of his best friends at Marquette. Sempasa said Younger is a motivated person and a great leader.

"He has a lot of drive," Sempasa said. "He's very self-motivated. He motivates others."

Sempasa said the attitude extends into every part of Younger's life.

"He's really passionate about everything that he does," Sempasa said. "Everything he does, he does it with love. He never does anything half-hearted. He's unselfish and he's willing to sacrifice a lot."