By JI Reporter Molly McGreer

*Knock knock knock*

“It’s time to get out of the car. That’s a point!”

This has become a morning ritual for many Marian students. As frustration builds, students are asking the question “Why?”

“Why do I need to leave my car?”

“Why should I be forced to come inside?”

“Why is it dangerous?”

“Why? Why? Why?”

“I like to have that alone time in my car before school,” senior Student Board member Erin Cramer said.

Every month, she and the other members of the Student Board meet with Principal Dr. Susie Sullivan to discuss current issues.

This issue was discussed at their meeting on Sept. 14. The students proposed ideas: assigned parking so students don’t have to arrive so early, or creating more spaces in the school that are for relaxing/ having alone time.

However, neither of these suggestions were accepted.

Cramer said she feels as though it is important for her to have time alone to relax before embarking on her 8-hour, high stress, school days followed by two hours of varsity volleyball practice.

Although it may seem like a rule without reasoning, administration confirms there are many issues with morning car rot.

First is safety. When students are in their cars on the Marian campus, they are under the liability of Marian.

Coming inside is an extra step of precaution to make sure students are safe and making the right choices before school.

Recently, this concern was addressed in the Parent Newsletter the week of Sept. 11.

It reads: “Students who remain in or around parked cars may be less aware of moving vehicles and other potential hazards. And it can be difficult for adults to supervise outside of the building.”

Mr. Jeremy VanAckren Dean of Students shares that although administration has only been outside to encourage girls to come in a few times, they plan on doing it year round.

For him the biggest concern is safety: “I try to stress this to girls- it’s a huge safety issue.”

Although it might not seem like it, VanAckren warns his students about the people expiriancing homelesness who have been known to use Marian’s campus borders and emphasizes how this is not a completely safe part of town.

Another factor is leaving your car on for long periods of time. This leads to a waste of fuel and contributes to air pollution while continuously draining the car battery.

Plus… it is always good to be building community in the Marian halls. As math teacher Miss Megan Han says, “You never know what kind of fun you can have or conversations you’ll make in the morning while in the building rather than in the car by yourself.”

She and many others hope students will soon see that community is more important than isolation.