Leslie Morgan Steiner, an advocate for domestic abuse prevention, is shown giving a TED talk, which has received more than 3 million views online.

Leslie Morgan Steiner, a survivor and an advocate for domestic partner violence prevention, will speak at Kansas University on Monday evening as part of the Jana Mackey Distinguished Lecture series.

Steiner, author of the book “Crazy Love,” has appeared in television and print media and has given a TED Talk that has received more than 3 million views.

The lectures, sponsored by KU’s Emily Taylor Center for Women and Gender Equity in collaboration with several other campus organizations, are held annually in memory of Jana Lynn Mackey. Mackey was a 25-year-old law student at KU when she was murdered by her ex-boyfriend in July of 2008.

Kathy Rose-Mockry, director of the Emily Taylor Center, said Mackey had been involved in activism as a student but then went on to work at Willow Domestic Violence Center and the Sexual Trauma and Abuse Care Center, then known as GaDuGi. She also served as a lobbyist for women’s rights, Rose-Mockry said.

“When Jana was murdered, we felt very committed to keep the good work going that she had started,” Rose-Mockry said. “… Having worked closely with her, it felt like it was really important to keep her memory alive and keep the work going and empower students, especially, to take the next step in addressing these issues.”

Rose-Mockry said Steiner will share her own story and also address how to spot domestic abuse, how to make a difference and how to get out of these situations and help others.

The subject of Steiner’s book is the story of her own marriage to a man who gradually became more and more abusive.

Crazy

“(Steiner) had become desensitized to some of the control in the relationship,” Rose-Mockry said. “They got married and the serious abuse escalated, and at one point he actually held a gun to her head.”

Rose-Mockry said Steiner’s talk will also address why victims in domestic relationships choose to stay with their partners.

“I think there’s a real stigma — people often don’t understand, and it’s important to understand that dynamic, both for people who can be of support and people who are in it, because the guilt is tremendous,” Rose-Mockry said.

Rose-Mockry said she believes it’s important to talk about these issues because too often people remain silent when they should be encouraged to reach out for help.

“Intimate partner violence and domestic violence are so normalized in our culture, and it’s such a common experience, that it’s really important to expose it for what it is so people can recognize when they’re in these situations exactly what it is they’re dealing with,” Rose-Mockry said, “so they can reach out for help and get the support they need prior to it becoming violent, as it was in Jana’s case.”

The lecture will be 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Dole Institute of Politics, 2350 Petefish Drive, followed by a reception and book signing. For those who cannot attend, a live stream of the event will be available at journalism.ku.edu/live/doleinstitute.

On Tuesday morning, Steiner will be present for an informal discussion, “Coming to the Table to Make a Difference,” from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Kansas Room in the Kansas Union, 1301 Jayhawk Blvd. Both events are free and open to the public.

As a resource to learn more about these issues, Rose-Mockry suggested visiting sexualharassment.ku.edu.