Wight voiced a note of caution when he said the task force would take its time to do the job right.

"I'm very reluctant to hurry the process. If you have to delay it to do it right, then you should delay it rather than hurrying and messing it up," he said.

The transformation being discussed between the two institutions would take several years to implement, Wight added.

"Getting the support of the governor and the Legislature is absolutely essential," he said. "I'm personally convinced if we don't go through with a formal structure change, we will be able to go forward with a partnership. But it would be nice to come up with a structure if it would benefit students. That's the bottom line."

The task force is expected to deliver another report by early fall to the presidents of each school. Stan Plewe, Dixie vice president of college services and a task force member, said the institutions are paving new ground in Utah.

"This is the most exciting thing. We have a chance to make something great for our children and grandchildren," he said. "I think what we'll have is a palette of choices that make sense for these institutions. We still have a lot of ground to cover."

One of the issues still simmering is that of a college mascot and nickname for the St. George school. Controversy continues to exist over dropping "Dixie" from the official name of the college if it merges with the U.

An earlier decision by Dixie trustees to change the school's mascot and quit using the nickname "Rebels" is another sore spot that hasn't been resolved to the satisfaction of two trustees, Jennifer Shakespeare and Steve Caplin.

At this point, Dixie State College has no mascot or nickname to print on athletic jerseys or other official school uniforms or publications. Newly elected Dixie student body president Brock Bybee said students need something to cheer for at school events.

"Just the fact that we have a nickname is important," said Bybee. "I really don't understand why we can't just keep the Rebels name until we have something new. From the students' student's standpoint, I don't see how they're going to be excited about cheering for the St. George 'blanks' or the Dixie State College 'nothings.' We want to rally around the Dixie spirit."

Dixie trustee Bill Ronnow said the decision could not be repealed.

"We have already shed that blood, drawn a line in the sand and we're not going back. As far as I'm concerned it was the right thing to do," he said.

To view the task force interim report and other details of the proposal, go online to www.dixie.edu and click on the DSC/U of U information link.

---

E-mail: nperkins@desnews.com