Auburn’s first Black SGA president speaks to the BSU about his experiences on campus

By Shelby Julien

Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Harold Melton followed in the footsteps of another historic Auburn alum when he stopped by the Black Student Union’s, or BSU, general assembly on Sept. 28 to discuss his time at Auburn.
 
The Marietta, Georgia, native made history at Auburn by being the university’s first Black president of the Student Government Association, or SGA. Melton served the student body from 1987 to 1988 while earning his bachelor’s degree in international business.
 
While Melton was a student, Harold A. Franklin, the first Black student to attend Auburn, came to a BSU event to talk about his experience at the university and inspired Melton to make changes on campus as SGA president.
 
With Franklin in mind, Melton spoke to the BSU about his time at Auburn, his experience as SGA president and life after college, hoping to inspire the students to become leaders on campus and initiate change. He urged students to make their presence known on campus by getting involved.
 
“When I was president, we used to always say get involved, get involved, get involved. I want to tell you to not just get involved but make your mark,” Melton said. “Make sure they know that you were here and get involved in something you wouldn’t naturally get involved in. I want you to shape the environment of this institution, not just as a collective body but each one of you individually. I want you to leave your particular imprint.”
 
Jailin Sanders, the president of BSU, was grateful for the chance to hear Melton speak about his experiences as a leader and a student on campus.
 
“It was an honor having the opportunity to have Chief Justice Melton come and speak with the Black Student Union,” the senior from Bessemer, Alabama, said. “His story serves as an inspiration to all students to not be afraid or discouraged by your environment but to ‘make your mark and leave your imprint on the institution.’ To see him pay homage to Dr. Harold A. Franklin as one of the main inspirations in his decision to pursue SGA president brought a lot of things into perspective.”

Sanders credits Franklin for pioneering change on Auburn’s campus by being the first Black student and paving the way for Melton to become the first Black SGA president. Now, Ada Ruth Huntley, the current SGA president, has followed in their footsteps by making history as Auburn’s first Black female SGA president. 
 
Melton’s visit to campus comes on the heels of the university’s recent announcement about renaming the student center in his honor as a deliberative effort to strengthen Auburn’s inclusivity.
 
“Each generation of students at Auburn gets closer and closer to resolving racial issues on campus and making the Auburn Family equitable and truly inclusive to all of its members,” Sanders said.

Pictured below is Chief Justice Melton meeting with SGA President Ada Ruth Huntley during his visit to campus.