By J1 Reporter Eleanor Kolterman

Marian has raised its awareness to guarantee the safety of its students in and outside of the school. Marian has always been focused on the well-being of each and every student, but in recent years, the school has made many changes to its safety procedures and protocols. 

By 2019, Marian underwent a significant renovation that impacted almost all areas of the school. Along with this renovation came several changes to Marian’s entryways. “When I went to Marian, every door [on the interior side of campus] was left wide open,” Principal Dr. Susie Sullivan ’80 said. “When we renovated, we wanted a more secure entrance.”

Post renovation, everyone is required to enter and exit the building through the main entrance, located at the top of the hill on the interior side of the campus, facing the fields. These doors also require a special electronic pass to be opened from the outside or require a visitor or a guest to be let in from someone on the inside; another result of the renovation.

While guests are always welcome at Marian, they must follow a certain procedure during school hours to gain access to the school building. Any non-faculty, staff member or student wishing to enter must first check in at the front desk and be given a visitor lanyard. While checking in inside the building, guests are still confined to the entryway. The doors to the rest of the school are locked and controlled by the front desk, usually Mrs. Lisa Brewster, front office attendance manager. This protects students and staff from any unwanted guests who may want access but find themselves unable to get it. 

The local police also help to keep Marian and its surroundings safe and crime free. Marian is located in the northwest precinct and, although Marian staff do not actively ask the Omaha Police Department to patrol the area, they “are always focused on [patrolling] school areas,” said Officer Micheal Pecha, and on keeping students and their campuses safe.

Although Marian does not request police patrol on a daily basis, “The staff at Marian could request a ‘special attention’ if they needed any extra attention to the school,” Pecha said.

Marian makes good use of their access to the police department, “When we have a drill, we will invite the police department to come in and watch it so that they can give us a grade and [tell us] how we can improve,” Sullivan said.

Although Marian has already implemented various new safety features, Sullivan said there are still many improvements to be made. “We do need to do more education around if you’re in the cafeteria, where would you go if there was something that happened up in the front lobby?” Sullivan asked.

Marian staff and faculty have adequate training and procedures planned to keep the students as safe as they can be, but Sullivan wants to teach Marian girls how to “be prepared” in the case of an emergency. “We also want all students to be thinking defensively,” Sullivan said, “And you do have to be able to think on your feet quickly and listen to the adult.” Sullivan hopes to teach Marian girls how to think independently and make quick decisions in the name of safety.