On March 15, 2019, students from the Sandra Day O'Connor Inn of Court joined hundreds of people outside the Supreme Court to celebrate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s (RBG) 86th birthday. The “Plank Like RBG Event” was organized by the female-founded retail company The Outrage and was inspired by Justice Ginsburg’s love of fitness and daily plank routine.
The event kicked off with remarks by speakers and performers. Among the speakers were GW Law students Elissa Jeffers, 1L, and Ali Kingston, 3L. “I was honored to celebrate Justice Ginsburg’s birthday at this event,” Ms. Jeffers shared. “Like so many other women and girls, she is a role model who changed what I thought was possible for myself. She was a catalyst for my own advocacy for women and LGBTQ+ people as a legal assistant, now as a law student, and soon, as an attorney.”
Claire Knowlton, 1L, said GW Law was well represented at the celebration. “Elissa and Ali did an outstanding job speaking to the impact RBG has on the world and how her legacy will continue to affect change in the future. I felt proud to be a part of our community.”
After opening remarks, the crowd performed planks in unison like RBG. “With RBG’s personal trainer leading us through the steps of a perfect plank, our form was impeccable," Ms. Knowlton said. "I’m sure RBG would approve of this kind of birthday party activity.”
GW Law students were joined by Dawn C. Nunziato, O'Connor Inn of Court Lead Advisor and William Wallace Kirkpatrick Research Professor, and Sonia M. Suter, John and Inge Stafford Faculty Research Professor.