UTAH, US / AGILITYPR.NEWS / February 22, 2021 / Dixie State University students will be at the Utah State Capitol Wed., Feb. 24, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the front steps to urge the Senate to hear HB 278 on the Senate floor.

After seeing reports that the Senate is not planning on taking HB 278 to the Senate floor, the DSU Student Association Executive Council coordinated this effort to speak with senators themselves.

Because students are the ones being directly impacted by the name, they are concerned their voices are not being heard.

Because Senate President Adams and Sen. Ipson have both publicly said they are working to refine HB 278, the students and DSU are eager to hear from the Senate and work toward a solution before the session ends March 5. In support of students, DSU is issuing the following statement:

Official DSU Statement:

Dixie State University is encouraged that the Utah Senate is working on HB 278, Name Change Process for Dixie State University. The University is prepared to work with senators to support our students and prepare our alumni for rewarding careers all while honoring the Southern Utah heritage; however, we are concerned that we have not heard specific proposals to strengthen the bill and the end of the session is rapidly approaching.

Discussions regarding the Dixie State name have been ongoing for decades, and it is now clear that the name is creating measurable and widespread negative impacts on our students, alumni, and institution. Out of respect for our students and the hard work they put into earning their degrees, the University feels it is paramount that the bill is heard on the senate floor this year.

This recommendation has been unanimously supported by the DSU Student Association Executive Council, University Council, President’s Cabinet, Board of Trustees, the Utah Board of Higher Education, each college and university president from the Utah System of Higher Education System, and a veto-proof majority of the Utah House of Representatives. Additionally, Governor Cox publicly shared his support for this bill.

As an institution of higher education, we have a deep responsibility to look out for our students’ continued success and appreciate the Senate’s dedication to Utah’s future workforce. We look forward to working with our senators as they work to bring this bill to the Senate floor.