Name reflects changes, growth of ‘new’ Marian University

Zack Fincher, Marian University Bookstore supervisor, removes the last three T-shirts with “Marian College” printed on them and replaces them with “Marian University” T-shirts. All “Marian College” items were on sale for 75 percent off the original price. “These [Marian College T-shirts] are pretty much all that’s left,” Fincher said. (Photo by Kamilla Benko)

By Kamilla Benko

What’s in a name?

According to Shakespeare, not much.

But Daniel Elsener, president of Marian University, understands a name can say a lot about an institution and its mission.

Effective July 1, Marian College in Indianapolis will officially change its name to Marian University. (See related story: From college to university: Recent changes at Marian College)

“We are legally documented with the secretary of state as ‘The Marian University,’ ” said Elsener, “but for business purposes we will go by Marian University.”

Elsener included “The” to distinguish the Indianapolis-based university from Marian University in Wisconsin. However, the university president cited a more important factor for including the article adjective.

“[The] brings attention to this university and the fact that it is dedicated to the Blessed Mother,” explained Elsener. “The university is unique to Indiana, and it very clearly identifies us as a place of faith.”

Faith has always been important to Marian College.

In 1936, St. Francis Normal School and Immaculate Conception Junior College merged to form one college. The Oldenburg-based Sisters of St. Francis chose to name the new school after the Blessed Virgin because of their personal dedication to the Immaculate Conception and because Mary is the patron saint of the United States.

“I think there was no question about what the name would be in the beginning,” said Franciscan Sister Rachel West, the archivist at Marian University.

Since the name change was announced 18 months ago, school officials have slowly introduced the new name on the campus.

“There are new things in the bookstore, and all the stationery is being changed,” Sister Rachel said.

She said it would be a relatively easy transition, but “it will take some getting used to.”

Elsener said it was time for a change because the name no longer adequately reflected the school.

“We’re taking on a name of what we are rapidly becoming—a great Catholic university,” he said.

There are 2,000 students currently enrolled at Marian University. According to Elsener, the college only had 13 graduate students in 2000, but now has 300 graduate students.

“I think Marian University sounds more sophisticated,” said Amber Carpenter, who will begin her sophomore year in August. “Marian College sounded like a little hometown school. With the name change, people will realize it’s more than that.”

In many countries around the world, Sister Rachel said, “college” indicates high school level education. As a result, international students are reluctant to attend.

“I think that the name change could conceivably draw more of an international and national focus as far as admissions,” said Sister Rachel. “ ‘University’ gives an element of prestige.”

Elsener is quick to emphasize that Marian University will not be just any university, but a Catholic university.

“We made it clear that we want to be distinctly Catholic,” he said. “If you look across the country, most great cities have a Catholic university. These Catholic universities are a public witness and voice in the community for faith seeking and understanding.”

Sister Rachel said Marian has already had a positive impact on the community. Many active parish leaders, principals and nurses are graduates of Marian College, she said.

Though the Marian community is in a time of change, some things will stay the same.

“Marian University has stayed strong because of the individual attention that has been given to every person on campus,” said Sister Rachel, a 1954 graduate of Marian College. “From the very beginning, there has been a very human touch.”

Carpenter agreed.

“The Marian professors are very willing to help. I feel like the staff is there to help you succeed in life, not just in business or money.”

“The emphasis is still on the individual student,” Sister Rachel said. “I would hope that would not diminish as time goes on.”

But there is no need to worry.

Elsener said that what is good about Marian College will not disappear at Marian University.

“We are taking what is good about Marian College,” Elsener said, “and projecting it forward in bigger and bolder ways for the service of the community, Church and state.

“It’s a good time to be a Marian Knight,” he added.

(For more about Marian University, log on to www.marian.edu.) †