In the News
For Jana
Publication date: Jan. 27, 2009
Source: National Jurist Magazine
Author: Dave Thomas
National Jurist Magazine featured the story of Jana Mackey, a 25-year-old KU Law student and women's rights activist who was murdered last July by her ex-boyfriend.
The National Jurist wrote:
To the people who knew and loved her, many will tell you that Jana Mackey packed more into her 25 years of life than a lot of people do in a lifetime.
Her parents, friends and those who knew her in school say she was always looking out for other people and wanting to make their lives a little better. Most notably, serving as an advocate for women's rights by volunteering to aid victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.
"Jana was driven by equality for women," Curt (Brungardt, Jana's father) said. "She saw what she was doing to be a better way to be an advocate for women. You could say she had a 'call to action.' That is what drove her."
...
Dean Gail Agrawal said Jana was a law school dean's dream candidate.
"One of her teachers described her as a 'rare combination of intellect, thoughtfulness and passion," Agrawal said. "She came to us already a passionate advocate for social justice issues with a clear vision about why she was seeking a legal education — to be the most effective advocate she could be for the people and issues that mattered to her."
...
Earlier this year Curt and Christie began a Web site, www.1100torches.org, which encourages 1,100 people to serve others. The ultimate goal of the site is to document 1,100 people and their stories of community service and/or advocacy."
