Institute of Politics

In the News

Letter to the Editor: Can you hear us? Our student perspective on the Dixie State name change

Students’ letter to the editor on the topic of the Dixie State University name change.

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Proposed Dixie State University name change evokes emotional debate

Some on panel discussion say the name does harm while others argue its a unique and enviable brand.

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Dixie Name - DSU Institute of Politics

DSU Institute of Politics & Public Affairs hosted a panel discussion on the impacts of changing the name of the University.
The event comes after DSU Board of Trustees voted unanimously to send the name change to the Utah State Legislature, to make a final decision on the matter.
While many believe its time to take the name Dixie out of the colleges name, others say its a part of local heritage and a sense of community.

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A brand should never hurt: Dixie State University hosts discussion on Dixie name change

The institute of politics hosted the forum on Dixie name change in order to have a civil conversation surrounding the recommended name change and to educate, inform, seek to find common ground and explore the facts of the issue.

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Dixie State University's Institute of Politics to host discussion on institutional name, Thursday

Dixie State University’s Institute of Politics & Public Affairs is hosting a panel discussion surrounding the proposal to change the university’s name, Thursday. The event, moderated by Vince Brown, director of DSUs Institute of Politics & Public Affairs, will feature a balanced panel to reflect the university’s position, where the faculty stands, the student perspective, and the questions and concerns that the community-at-large may have.

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Local lawyers defend Dixie name at name-change panel

A five-person panel made up of Dixie State University representatives and two local lawyers discussed the universitys name change in an emotional exchange Jan. 21.
The Eccles Mainstage Theater quickly filled with DSU students, alumni and local community members. Vince Brown, moderator and director of the Institute of Politics, welcomed everyone to the event.

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St. George city council members face potential conflicts of interest in picking new mayor

When the St. George City Council votes to appoint a new mayor this week, a majority of the people charged with making the pick will have some sort of personal interest in the votes outcome either because they themselves are applying to be the cities next leader, or they’re directly related to someone who is.

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Dixie State and St. George Chamber co-host virtual Southern Utah Candidate Forum

To better inform the community about current political issues, candidates from House District 75, House District 74, and Senate District 29 will participate in the virtual 2020 Southern Utah Candidate Forum co-hosted by Dixie State University’s Institute of Politics and Public Affairs and the St. George Area Chamber of Commerce.

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Oct. 12 candidate forum at DSU moved online out of 'abundance of caution' against COVID-19

A candidate forum at Dixie State University scheduled early next week has been moved online as a precaution against COVID-19. Moderator Don Willie, president of the St. George Area Chamber of Commerce, will guide the two-hour discussion.
Later this month, Brown will serve as the moderator in a forum between candidates vying to represent Congressional District 2 in the U.S. House of Representatives.

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DSU Students Discuss the Value of Voting

With the 2020 presidential election less than two months away, students and faculty at DSU are using this opportunity to share their opinions and exercise their right to freedom of speech.

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DSU Politics discuss Black Lives Matter and Policing in St. George

The DSU Institute of Politics held a two part series during its Pizza and Politics discussions on Black Lives Matter and Policing. Students were invited to hear from local police and city officials this week. Last week, they heard from representatives of Black Lives Matter. While the two may appear miles apart, their concerns are more alike than many may realize.

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Dixie State hosting discussion about name change

Dixie State University’s Institute of Politics and Public Affairs is hosting a panel discussion surrounding the proposal to change the university’s name. The discussion is set to take place at noon Thursday and will be moderated by Vince Brown, director of the institute.

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Lawmakers anticipate contentious debate of bill to change Dixie State University's name

A Utah lawmaker has introduced a bill to change the name of Dixie State University. While many want to honor Utahs Dixie Spirit, university officials reiterate they cant move past the names association with the Confederacy that harms the institution.

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After emotional debate, bill to rename Dixie State University clears Utah House

After nearly an hour of emotional debate that extended past the Houses scheduled adjournment from its morning session, representatives voted 51-20 to pass HB278, which would launch a process to change the name of Dixie State University. The bill moves to the Utah Senate for further consideration.

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Student Government: A guide to running for student office

For the first time in Dixie State Universitys history, the Institute of Politics is in charge of the student elections process.
The IOP already had its first informational meeting for candidates on Feb. 8 and plan to have another on Feb. 11. This informational meeting will be for those who wish to run and have questions regarding the application process.

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Poll: Most Utahns wouldn't change name of Dixie State University

Utahns are weighing in on the subject via a Deseret News-Hinckley Institute of Politics poll, which found that 61 percent of Utahns don’t think the name should change.

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Black History Month to be celebrated at DSU

Students and staff in the Black Student Union planned Februarys Black History Month events at Dixie State University to promote the importance of the month and learning another culture.

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Why Dixie State students support a name change

Dixie State University's Institute of Policy to host a discussion on the institutions name on Thursday

The Dixie State University Institute for Policy and Public Affairs is hosting a panel discussion on Thursday on the proposal to change the name of the university.

January email indicates Utah Senate likely never intended to hear Dixie State name change bill

Following news that a bill moving through the Utah Legislature to drop Dixie from Dixie State University’s name came into doubt Thursday evening, additional information was presented to St. George News that could indicate at least some Utah senators never intended to hear the bill on the floor.

DSU community discusses why watching debates is beneficial for students

Presidential debates are a hot topic right now, and watching them can be difficult because of the high intensity and snide remarks, but the Dixie State University community has tips to help with that situation.

Local candidates for Utah Legislature address budget priorities, other topics during virtual forum

Candidates in three local election races for Utah Legislature seats weighed in on a variety of topics during Monday nights candidate forum hosted and conducted by Dixie State University’s Institute of Politics and Public Affairs, along with the St. George Area Chamber of Commerce.

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Dixie State to host virtual forum between candidates for U.S. Congress this Wednesday

Candidates vying to represent Utah’s Second Congressional District will take the virtual stage Wednesday evening for a candidate forum hosted by Dixie State University’s Institute of Politics.

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Significant voter turnout for student body elections despite pandemic

The 2021-22 student body elections have officially come to a close and voter turnout rates were not as significantly low as expected during the pandemic, officials overseeing the election said.
Vince Brown, director of the Institute of Politics, said he is happy with the turnout in light of COVID-19 considering this is the first year the IOP has overseen student body elections.

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How did national events like George Floyd's death complicate Dixie State name change debate?

As a debate in southern Utah continues to rage about whether or not to change the name of Dixie State University, a local lawmaker said national events like the death of George Floyd last year politicized the name change and damaged the school’s efforts to include residents.

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Lawmakers anticipate contentious debate of bill to change Dixie State University's name

A Utah lawmaker has introduced a bill to change the name of Dixie State University. While many want to honor Utahs Dixie Spirit, university officials reiterate they cant move past the names association with the Confederacy that harms the institution.

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DSU updates COVID-19 guidelines

Dixie State University has revised its COVID-19 guidelines in order to keep students, faculty and staff safe throughout the semester.
State legislature prohibits Dixie State University from mandating face coverings as well as COVID-19 vaccines for all students, faculty and staff; however, DSU does strongly recommend you wear face coverings and be vaccinated.

A Look Inside Utahs Second Amendment Sanctuary Movement

Second Amendment sanctuaries are popping up across the country. In Utah, theres been a push at the county level for over a year that could make its way up to state lawmakers.
Vince Brown is the director of the Institute of Politics and Public Affairs at Dixie State University. He said resolutions like these have very little legal force and are more symbolic. However, he said they could potentially undermine the proper way of challenging laws, which is through the courts.

At Dixie State event, legislators recap 2021 session, education funding, university name change

Six state legislators representing portions of both Washington and Iron counties spoke to Dixie State University students and staff Thursday about the 2021 general session. The event was held as part of the university’s Institute of Politics and Public Affairs Pizza and Politics series.

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Primary Election results for St. George mayoral race are in

The Primary Election results for the St. George mayoral race are in, narrowing it down to four candidates.

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Remember The 43 Students' On Thursday's Access Utah

Dixie State University’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences is bringing the Remember the 43 Students art installation to their campus.
Well talk about this today with journalist John Gibler; Vince Brown, Director of the Dixie State University Institute of Politics; and Christopher Gonzalez, Director of the USU Latinx Cultural Center and Professor of English and Associate Dean in the USU College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

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Gone but not forgotten: DSU honors 43 missing students in art exhibit

Dixie State University honors the lives of 43 students who disappeared during a political demonstration in 2014.
The art instillation, being hosted by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, will consist of 43 life-sized silhouettes with a biography of each missing student on it. These silhouettes will be placed around campus for all to view starting Sept. 17 through Oct. 1.

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Remember the 43 Students art installation, series of events about the missing students comes to DSU

To mark the seventh anniversary of the disappearance of 43 students, who went missing after visiting Iguala, a city in the state of Guererro in Mexico, Steve Lee, the Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Services at Dixie State University is producing a series of events at the university.

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Dixie Sun News September 30, 2021

Utah state representative Candice Pierucci and DSU associate provost Nancy Hauck will appear at the Institute of Politics’ Pizza and Politics forum on Women in Politics.

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DSU opens "Remember the 43 Students" for students who vanished, were murdered

On Friday, Dixie State University held the opening ceremony for the art installation Remember the 43 Students beginning a month of activities surrounding the anniversary of the incident on September 26.

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Journalist interviewed at DSU about 43 Mexican students who disappeared after a protest

Dixie State University hosted an open discussion on Thursday with Mexico-based journalist John Gibler who told the story of 43 students who were “disappeared” after attending a protest. Vince Brown, the director of the DSU Institute of Politics, interviewed Gibler and led a discussion with various questions collected from students and others in attendance.

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Remember the 43 Students

Mexico City-based journalist John Gibler in conversation with DSU’s Vince Brown Institute of Politics in the Gardner Center Ballroom on the DSU campus.

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Debate set for St. George candidates for mayor, City Council on day ballots go out by mail

The candidates running for both mayor and City Council in St. George have agreed to a debate on Oct. 12, the same day that election clerks plan to send out ballots by mail for the 2021 municipal election.

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A successful democracy requires participation: Debate scheduled for St. George mayor, city council races

The newly-formed Southern Utah Debate Commission will host candidates for St. George City Council and mayor on Tuesday.
Vince Brown, who serves as co-chair of the commission, said that he saw a need for regularly scheduled debates for each new election cycle.

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SOUTHERN UTAH DEBATE COMMISSION TO HOST MUNICIPAL DEBATES ON DIXIE STATE CAMPUS

The Southern Utah Debate Commission and Dixie State University are partnering to host debates for the St. George City mayoral and city council races together in one event.

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St. George Mayoral Candidates talk Growth, Water, Housing at debate

Candidates for St. George mayor, city council debate at Dixie State. The St. George mayoral candidates Michele Randall and Jimmie Hughes squared off against each other in a debate on Tuesday night but ended up expressing similar ideas and concerns over issues facing the city.

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St. George mayoral debate draws contrast between candidates

While the candidates for city of St. George mayor align on most issues facing the city, they told the audience at the first Southern Utah Debate Commission debate that they differ in one respect. That is, the way they would approach the job

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St. George City Council candidates face off in debate concerning public safety, water, affordable housing

Vince Brown asked an audience of more than 300 at Dixie State University’s Eccles Theater to forget national politics for a moment on Tuesday evening.
What follows is a combination of moments gleaned from the debate, as well as interviews St. George News conducted with each candidate.

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St. George mayoral candidates agree on a lot, but say they have different styles of management and backgrounds

St. George mayoral and city council candidates debated the well-known issues of the area growth, water, the Dixie name change and housing Tuesday night. Though the candidates didn’t differ much on their stances on the topics.
Four St. George City Council candidates also debated earlier in the night. They talked about similar topics and discussed the importance of unity and liberty.

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