In student government, some events receive much less attention than they deserve. On Wednesday, an important milestone will occur for the University of Illinois. On April 17, the first African-American student body president, Damani Bolden, will officially be inaugurated.

Student government has a history of inclusiveness regarding gender and race. For example, 40 years before the 19th Amendment was ratified, females held positions in our student government. Yet few non-Caucasian students have ever become student body president. We have had a plethora of female presidents, including Rhonda Kirts, Laura Frerichs and Jaclyn O’Day. The campus also had African-American student trustees, including Cornele Overstreet, Byron Mitchell and Chime Asonye.

Surprisingly, we never had an African-American student body president, until now. Damani Bolden will assume the position next week. African-American students had to form their own student association 45 years ago to be represented at the University. Even 15 years ago, the student government did not proportionately represent African-American students. Alumni from those years will take notice.

As one of his dear friends, I congratulate Damani Bolden on his victory. I’m confident he will be a great president.

Shao Guo,

historian and vice president-internal of the Illinois Student Senate

Editor’s Note: A previous version of this column incorrectly stated that Damani Bolden would be the Illinois Student Senate’s first African-American president at the University of Illinois. Damani Bolden is not the University’s first African-American president. The Daily Illini regrets the error.