Deseret News | Reader comments: Many balk at dropping Dixie name

Reader comments
Many balk at dropping Dixie name

Common Sense | 9:03 a.m. Nov. 18, 2007

Glad to hear some people are talking, finally, about something that makes much more sense: a University Center in St. George with several institutions represented (SUU, USU, U of U) and offering programs and degrees. This allows Dixie to retain its identity which people feel so strongly about while allowing DSC students to pick and choose from which institution they would like to take courses and earn degrees. Caplin is right in the position he has taken.

Reb | 9:29 a.m. Nov. 18, 2007

"But DSC trustee Chris Roybal, who lives in Salt Lake City, said people outside of the local community 'can't quite figure out why this name 'Dixie' ended up in southern Utah.'"

If Roybal can't figure something out that would take five minutes of research on the internet, should he/she be a university trustee?

Historical ignorance | 10:00 a.m. Nov. 18, 2007

I understand the sensitivity to the Confederate Flag. That makes absolute sense to me as it was a standard for an seceded nation whose stood for landowner's rights which included slavery.

Nationally, the name Dixie is much more than a tie to the confederate states. Sure, it rang in the popular regrain. It had to do with geography and regional pride--to live and die in the South.

Locally, Dixie has another historical tie. The St. George area's weather was a dramatic change from that of the rest of the state. Crops that were commonly grown in the South could be grown in the St. George area. Parallels regarding crops and weather were the reason it became known as "Utah's Dixie."

There has never been negative tie to Dixie when applied to St. George. The southern states' Dixie had more than just slavery. They had friendly people, they had industry, they had warmer climates. That, too, is Dixie.

Comments continue below

Historical ignorance (2) | 10:01 a.m. Nov. 18, 2007

I apologize for the typographical error...refrain, not regrain.

SUU affiliation | 10:10 a.m. Nov. 18, 2007

I am somewhat surprised that the University of Utah would not consider SUU as a more viable option since it offers more programs and is a larger institution.

Anonymous | 12:07 p.m. Nov. 18, 2007

Historical ignorance can spin what "Dixie" means all he wants, but to most of the civilized world "Dixie" will forever be associated with slavery and racism. His argument reminds me of my high school teacher who said the Civil War wasn't about slavery. This, of course, is a specious argument because every issue the South argued about--states' rights, cultural sensibilities, economic differences, etc., etc.--can be traced back to slavery. And the leading historians writing today--Eric Foner, Ira Berlin, Jim McPherson, and David Blight--all attest to that point. Bottom line: Dixie will always be associated with racism, and that's proof enough to get rid of the name.

Southerner | 12:32 p.m. Nov. 18, 2007

I grew up the in the real Dixie--the American southeast. When I came to Utah and learned that the southern part of the state was called "Dixie" I had to laugh. it seems so unoriginal. Couldn't Utahns come up with their own name?

dumb name | 2:14 p.m. Nov. 18, 2007

What's so great about the name Dixie? Just because it's been the name for so long makes it such a wonderful name that you can't part with? I think it's a silly name, and really don't understand why people would get upset about changing it

to: Reb | 2:25 p.m. Nov. 18, 2007

If Reb can't figure out what a quote means, which would take just a five-minute understanding of the English language, should he/she be responding to it on message boards?

XRANG | 5:54 p.m. Nov. 18, 2007

The University of Utah is the flagship school of higher education in the state of Utah. It'll give everyone at that school access to resources that they never could have had before. They'd be crazy to give up an chance like this over something as silly as a name change, and what's really wrong with University of Utah-Dixie campus?

A Dixie Boy at heart | 6:11 p.m. Nov. 18, 2007

I have heard arguments for years that Dixie is a tie to racism. I agree that outside of Utah and surrounding states familiar with the region you are correct. The question you have to ask is where are your students coming from?

I have seen comments posted by others making the statement that it is hurting their recruiting outside the area. Dixie needs to be more concerned with serving the people in it's region rather looking to please other 49 states. If Dixie could gather the support from the other schools in the sate to assist them in offering established programs they would be better off.

They have tried this in the past and it might be a good time to make this happen. In the past you had personalities in the presidents' offices that didn't work and play together. Perhaps with the current presidents can make it happen.

I don't think being assimilated by the U is the right answer.

Reality | 6:37 p.m. Nov. 18, 2007

This isn't about a name change! It's time for people to wake up to reality... Little Dixie State College simply cannot keep up with the needs of the students in Southern Utah by itself. This isn't necessarily Dixie State College's fault. It is just the reality of the growth within the State of Utah. The quickest and easiest solution is to tie into programs that are already in existance and already have the proper resources. Trying to reinvent the wheel by allowing Dixie to grow on its own to meet the needs is far to expensive, time consuming, and impractical...

A few existing Dixie State College Boosters may cry over this, but get real! This is a State College funded primarily by State tax dollars... Let's do what is best for the higher education needs in our state, not bicker about tradition, names, and mascots.

uusg | 7:26 p.m. Nov. 18, 2007

DSC has a University Center on Campus, tied to Utah State University. This has not done much for students, and the idea that we become a clearing house for all the other Universities in the state is laughable. It is time for something bold and visionary, and a "University Center" is not it.

Further, Dixie, even in Utah, does have a relationship to the Confederate South and racism. The name Dixie was not even applied to the Southern U.S. until the song "I wish I was in Dixie" became the de facto national anthem of the Confederate States of America. The leader of the cotton mission that would later become Washington City, Robert Dockery Covington, was a former slave owner. To suggest adopting "Dixie" was just about climate or cash crop similarities is naive. Get ahold of a DSC yearbook (called the Confederate!)from the late 1960's to see examples of blatant racism right on campus.

Drop Dixie, drop the Rebel mascot, forge a strong and meaningful affiliation with the U. Anything else will represent a collosal strategic mistake on behalf of local and state leaders. Don't let tribalism and and denial sabotage a wonderful opportunity.

Janey | 10:39 p.m. Nov. 18, 2007

This is just all too ignorant. I am so sick and tired of all this PC garbage. For many years I have known and admired this place of learning as "Dixie State College" and now the PC nuts want to change it over something that happened many decades ago. It is not necessary at all to take this name away from the alumni who loved their school. If you have to make a distinction with the U, then simply call it University of Utah/Dixie. Leave it at that and quit the power play over the name.

Homer | 12:53 a.m. Nov. 19, 2007

In the end it should be about education for students today--in the here and now.

Things are always changing and things definitely have changed from the past. We have indoor plumbing now, and oh yeah, the Civil War ended so things have definitely changed since then.

Hang on to the things that are good and change the things that are bad or even useless. Education good--borderline racist, divisive words bad.

True Blue | 2:37 a.m. Nov. 19, 2007

I'm a Dixie grad who finished at BYU and I just don't want the U associated with Dixie for selfish, personal reasons: I'm a die-hard Cougar fan.

But to be serious, St. George needs a real university connection. Maybe the U connection is the best way to go. One concern I have would be one expressed in the article about maintaining some local control.

Another concern would be for students who wish to attend Dixie the same way I did 12 years ago (as a junior college to get an associate's degree). Would this still even be possible? How would affiliation with the U affect a student's ability to transfer to other schools like BYU (which was very easy because I had my AA)? This is especially important to local students but also to others (I was from the Salt Lake area). If affiliation with the U still leaves all the junior college options open then it might be the right move.

west side | 6:31 a.m. Nov. 19, 2007

as a minority living in utah i have become to like the name dixie...it sends flags up for me when i travel down south and i know that i am in a region that has supported several nazi skin head movments and their local college has a statue of a confederate rebel with gun and confederate flag! even if this nickname of dixie was removed it doesnt mean that the people in this region would be any less "southern"...im all for calling them what they are, especially if they want to embrace it...WESSSSSST SIIIIIDE!!

Denton | 7:04 a.m. Nov. 19, 2007

Investigation of the origins of the use of "Dixie" reveals that the term referred to a region where the common currency was a $10.00 (dix dollar) note issued by the Bank of New Orleans while that city was still part of a French territory. It's use throughout that region lent the name Dixie to an area that had economic activity (and yes slave ownership) requiring a currency even prior to westerward expansion of the United States. This history has nothing to do with modern southern Utah. Indeed, the mere fact that the modern conotation given the term Dixie associates it with a place where slavery was once commonplace, suggests that continued adherence to the term might likely be a disincentive to outside investment. Terminology changes. Language does not remain static. What was once a palatable nickname, always has the potential to become an unwanted albatross. Do what is right for the future of students from the region? That is the proper question. Make their futures, and the future of the region bright, not by clinging to questionable links to the past but by recognizing that present realities are what will shape the destiny of a future generation.

Charlie | 7:07 a.m. Nov. 19, 2007

As a proud grad of DIXIE COLLEGE, I cannot understand why becoming affiliated with another school means that all identity is stripped away for the sake of the 'greater' institution. When 2 people get married (which is what you are proposing here - an ACADEMIC marriage) you don't supplant one person's identity to create a new union!

To do so is most primative and certainly lacking in regards to the policy of creating a harmonious merging of the good that both entities bring into the relationship.

If this is the intent, to strip away everything "Dixie" in order to gain turf in the collegiate power grab, then perhaps it's time to reconsider this 'most generous offer'.

Just who REALLY benefits from DSC losing their identity?

Be real. . | 10:33 p.m. Nov. 19, 2007

A "marriage" is not being proposed here. This is an outright acquisition. It is not a merger of equals, it is a power play on the part of the U that would leave Dixie susceptable to the whims of the U's administration, which has already demonstrated a disregard for all other opinions.

Is the U THE answer to all the educational problems in southern Utah? NO, the answer lies in appropriate state funding which must be granted directly from the legislature. Has anyone asked the U how much they intend to invest of their own funds? NONE...they have made it clear that funding required for this affiliation must be provided by the legislature...that they have none of their own to spare.

Under this proposal the students pay higher tuition and the taxpayers fund the affiliation.

Cactus | 10:48 p.m. Nov. 19, 2007

Why won't a University Center work? Because the adminstration of Dixie does not want it to work. If the administration and Board of Trustees at Dixie are unable or unwilling to consider all appropriate options to enhancing education in southern Utah, they should be reprimanded. Could this situation be more a sign of leadership weakness and managerial failure?

Is this proposal really doing what is best for the students?

UUSG supporter | 9:43 p.m. Nov. 20, 2007

A "University Center" would not benefit DSC. DSC would not receive enrollment or graduation credit or funding from the state for those students who are enrolled in classes provided by "several institutions." SUU, USU, and UofU would get that funding and enrollment/grad credit as those students would be enrolled at those schools. The only thing DSC would get out of it is that the student would take up parking and some monetary compensation for facility/faculty use from the other schools.
As for a potential student-athlete, if a student-athlete were to enroll in one of those classes, by NCAA rule, that student would not be eligible to compete at DSC.
The UofU has discussed other partnership opportunities (so that Dixie keeps its name) under the rhealm of a "University Center", with the UofU getting full benefit from a student paying full UofU tuition and fees to take classes from St. George.
However, under a full and encompassing affiliation, in which the UofU-St. George would be created, the St. George campus would get those benefits listed above, with students paying tuition that could be 1/3 less than the flagship in SLC, and would still be the lowest-cost instate tuition overall in Utah.

UUSG Supporter Pt. II | 9:47 p.m. Nov. 20, 2007

One more comment about the term "acquistion". The State of Utah OWNS all of the schools in the state, that includes the University of Utah, Utah State, Weber State, SUU, UVSC, Dixie State, CEU, SLCC and Snow.

There is no acquisition here because the STATE owns, runs and controls the system of higher education.

Dixie man | 6:06 p.m. Nov. 26, 2007

I have a feeling Shandon Gubler is UUSG.

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