Politics with Nolan: Students Remember Ruth Bader Ginsberg
By Nolan Cleary, Managing Editor
She was a woman who changed American history. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, now dead at the age of 87. Her death leaves behind a legacy of accomplishments.
Born in 1933 in Brooklyn, New York, Ginsberg was the second child in her family. Her father was a Jewish immigrant from Ukraine.
Upon growing up, Ginsberg pursued a career in law. Having graduated from Harvard Law, and attended Cornell Law in Ithaca, New York. Ginsberg was declined work by many big outlets for her sex. Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter refused to allow her to clerk for him because she was a woman.
Eventually Ginsberg became a teacher, after she found trouble looking for work. She worked for many different universities, including Rutgers. Throughout this time, she developed more of an interest in women’s rights. She founded the Women’s Rights Law Reporter, which was the first law journal in the nation.
She went on to join the ACLU, where she founded a division devoted to women’s rights. Ginsberg continued to fight for discrimination against women to be barred in the U.S. Constitution under the 14th Amendment.
In 1980, President Jimmy Carter appointed her to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals where she served until 1993, when President Bill Clinton appointed her to the United States Supreme Court.
As just the second woman to ever serve on the court, Ginsberg became one of the more liberal justices for multiple years, voting to legalize gay marriage nationally, opposing the death penalty and favoring abortion rights.
Ginsberg survived cancer on multiple occasions, and outlived her husband, Martin Ginsberg, who died in 2010. Ginsberg would become a major name in pop culture, with merchandise being spawned after her.
She would gain the nickname Notorious R.B.G. from supporters, and gain major attention from Hollywood, with major blockbusters like SCOOB! and Deadpool 2 paying tribute to the late justice.
Ginsberg would also be featured in the 2018 documentary R.B.G. That same year, a biopic, titled On the Basis of Sex would be released, focusing on the early life of Ruth Bader Ginsberg as a struggling lawyer attempting to change the law to bar women from discrimination. Felicity Jones portrayed a young Ginsberg in the film. Both films received Academy Award nominations.
Ginsberg would continue to be a staple of the court until 2020 when she would die of pancreatic cancer at the age of 87. At Hudson Valley Community College, students are remembering the legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsberg.
“My initial reaction to the death of the Notorious R.B.G. was one of shock. I expected it to come within the next year or so because of her failing health and reassertion of pancreatic cancer, but I didn’t expect it now during this political cycle.” Connor Danz, a high school student taking Hudson Valley classes told The Hudsonian.
Nikita Padunin, a student in bioengineering was also surprised. “I was surprised, nobody expected her death.” Padunin told us.
Padunin says there has been too much drama online surrounding Ginsberg as a person. “From the drama I encounter on the internet, people are very angry that she died ‘too early.’ I think people should treat her passing with respect and try to remember that she was one of the people who was trying to make our country better, even when people didn’t agree with her decisions.”
Student Senate Vice President Savanah Shulkin also touted Ginsberg’s work on the court. “RBG presented a strong voice in gender equality, workers rights and the separation of church and state.” Shulkin said.
“The biggest accomplishment of RBG in my eyes is the elimination of gender based stereotyping in legislation and regulations.” Shulkin continued.
“My initial reaction to the death of RBG is that I was utterly shocked and started crying… I think that RBGs legacy will be her ruthless fight for the equality of all people. The pathway that she paved for women’s equality is incredible and she is a source of inspiration to many.”
Ginsberg was also known for her friendship on the other side of the isle, as she became famous for her friendship with conservative justice Antonin Scalia.
Danz says he believes that should be the model for all Americans. “I personally think everyone should [treat each other equally] despite if we disagree with them on political stuff, politics isn’t everything and we all be friendly with each other.” He says.
Padunin agrees. “Afterall, we are all humans and even if we have opposite views we shouldn’t hold a grudge on the individuals. I think it was good that RBG was friends with people who have opposite views.” He told us.
Shulkin says that Ginsberg’s friendship with Scalia demonstrated her respect for all people as human beings. “I think that RBG recognized that although her opposing right wing justices disagreed on a number of different issues, the politics of the individual did not define them as a whole.” Shulkin said.
Joesph Stenard, an economics professor at Hudson Valley Community College said Ginsberg’s spirit and ability to befriend those on the other side of the isle is a sentiment we need more of.
“Here at HVCC we enjoy something similar. I care deeply about my colleagues and respect them, even though our perspectives or priorities might disagree. We always agree the issues we are arguing about are important.” Stenard said.