A goose quill pen and a signed photograph of the Supreme Court judges from 1973 are souvenirs of Sarah Weddington's success in the Roe v. Wade trial.
When she was 26, Weddington argued and won the case regarding women's abortion rights. She is believed to be the youngest person to win a case in front of the Supreme Court.
Weddington's life is marked with feats of leadership, furthering of women's rights and accomplishments in the face of opposition.
Her presentation, "Some Leaders are Born Women," encourages women to exercise leadership, but it's geared for an audience of both men and women.
Now at age 65, she said traveling has become a bit of a hassle, and she's looking forward to giving her first live video conference to an audience at Ball State University's Pruis Hall.
Weddington grew up the daughter of a Methodist pastor who visited small churches in Texas. Giving devotionals and singing in the church choir, she said she's always considered herself a leader.
"I'm proud of young people who are beginning to be in leadership, including more women who choose to give time in leadership," she said.
She said she has always been mindful of the proportion of men to women in leadership positions.
"We need more women to aspire to leadership," she said. "It seems to me men see themselves more as the leaders of today."
She said women today have more opportunities, but the challenge to establish themselves as leaders is still there. The challenges young women face today deal with getting a job and getting into graduate school, she said.
In college, Weddington was told women can only aspire to be nurses, secretaries and teachers. She, however, really wanted to be a lawyer, and she became one of five women in her law class at the University of Texas, where she now teaches.
She also wanted to get a credit card so she could help put her husband through college. She was told she needed her husband's signature to apply for a credit card, and she refused. In 1973, she was elected a member of the Texas House of Representatives, and she helped pass the Equal Credit Bill. Then she got a credit card.
She said she remembers the day the Roe v. Wade case was decided — Jan. 22, 1973. She said she was working at the White House and a reporter called to ask for comment. This was the first she had heard about the case being decided, and she said she was ecstatic.
"Everyone down the hall was hearing about it that day," she said.
In 2003, her involvement with Roe v. Wade was noted in Time magazine's list of the 80 most important days in history. In May, Weddington will be listed by Good Housekeeping magazine as one of 125 women who have changed the world for her success in arguing Roe v. Wade.
Weddington said she defines leadership as the willingness and ability to leave your thumbprint.
"It's not always something that gets in a magazine, but it's something that makes the community a better place," she said.
Associate Director of Student Life Mitch Isaacs said Weddington's presentation will serve as a test run for more live video conferences in the future, and the Teleplex has already tested the technology a few times to make sure everything is working.
"We selected Ms. Weddington because she has played a significant role in American history," he said in an e-mail. "She has a great deal of credibility and experiences. She is a great fit for Women's Week."
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