It is incredibly easy to write stories that don’t matter. We can think of few things simpler than drumming up a fluff piece about, perhaps, our choice in mechanical pencils and publishing it in The Network as a piece of news. We bet it would be so incredibly easy for you to read that story too, but we don’t know why you would.

Here at The Network, we want to respect your time. We know that between classes, homework, extracurriculars, work, friends and family, you don’t have much time to dedicate to the news. That’s one of the many reasons why we’ve made it our goal this year to present you with stories that are worth your time—stories that show you new perspectives, that bring awareness to events and issues happening around you and keep you well informed and educated.

So much is going on in the Marian community, in the Omaha area and in the world that we want you to know about, so much more than our favorite mechanical pencil brand. Not all the stories we want to tell are easy to read. They might shock you and make you a little uncomfortable or upset, but know that we only share them with you because we know you can handle it. As strong, independent, thinking leaders, it is our duty to be informed so we can empower ourselves through education. Often times, we must make ourselves uncomfortable in order to grow.

Writing these kinds of stories isn’t easy either, and it would be impossible without all of you. Without your creativity, your ambition, your compassion and your intelligence we would have nothing to write about. It’s all of your stories that compel us to keep writing, to find out more, to get to know you better and so, we need your help. Don’t be afraid to stop any of us in the hallway to give us the scoop or ask us questions about the stories you’ve read. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to say “yes” to an interview, to respond to our surveys, and to share your story with us. The Network promises to respect your dignity as a source and a student and your time as a valued reader. Thank you for your support in our pursuit to educate, inform, and entertain the Marian community.