When state troopers in full riot gear removed 88 Penn State students from an 11-hour-sit-in, Seth Williams was there.

When students marched to Harrisburg to protest the university's investments in South Africa, Seth Williams was there.

And when the ballots get punched in the Democratic primary election for the Philadelphia District Attorney, Seth Williams will be there, too.

Former Undergraduate Student Government President and Black Caucus President Seth Williams, a 1989 graduate, announced last Friday that his latest challenge will be the race for District Attorney of Philadelphia against 14-year incumbent Lynne Abraham.

The primary will be held on May 17, and Williams said though his days at Penn State are over, he is "still fighting the system."

"Currently the criminal justice system in Philadelphia is broken," Williams said.

"Fifty-two percent of all felons have their cases thrown out at a preliminary hearing, because the [district attorney's] office is not ready. I want to change things to work better for people," he said.

Williams said his experiences at Penn State taught him to create coalitions of different people to work toward a common goal.

"I was able to see success in organizing different types of people -- different greek organizations, people who live off campus, people who live in North Halls -- to come together over issues that I thought were important," Williams said. "I learned to be an optimist and that things are possible if you approach with a strategy in mind."

His mother, Imelda Williams, said her son was raised to fight for his beliefs.

"We always told him don't holler about something unless your going to take part in clearing it up," she said.

Mike Schwartz, a 1987 graduate, said Seth Williams was enthusiastic and energetic while at Penn State.

"He was willing to say and do things that a lot of other people were thinking, but wouldn't say or do," Schwartz said.

In 1987 Williams ran for USG under the campaign "Action in Politics."

During that year, he orchestrated a student march to Harrisburg to protest university holdings in South Africa. Months later, university trustees voted to divest all funding.

When Penn State administration refused to meet with student leaders, Williams helped plan the sit-in at the Telecommunications Building that led to the arrest of 88 Penn State students.

Former Penn State President Bryce Jordan said that although he disagreed with Williams' actions at the protest, there was no bitterness between them.

"He was passionate," he said. "He seemed to have very deep feelings about matters of justice and equity."

However, his time of leadership was not free of problems, Williams said, noting that death threats and offensive flyers were posted all over campus.

Williams had hate letters mailed to his home and the USG office.

"I know there are crazy people in the world," Williams said. "It is a free marketplace of ideas and it taught me inner strength to deal with bizarre things."

Associate Vice Provost for Educational Equity Thomas Poole said Williams was one of the most talented students he has seen during his 26 years at Penn State.

"I remember Seth's time here as a time of tremendous student activism, and Seth was always right in the middle of it," he said.

Friends and family say they have no doubt about the outcome of the election.

"He has a very good chance of beating [Abraham]," Imelda Williams said. "I am very proud of him for standing up for what he believes in."

Abraham was not available for comment about the upcoming primary.