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ST. GEORGE — The name of Dixie State University holds a history some consider part of their identity, but a university professor said times have changed.
Associate professor of psychology Dannelle Larsen-Rife has done extensive research on Dixie and explained that although she respects the meaning of the name, which came from early settlers who came to grow cotton, recent events have changed it.
One report has shown more than 80 percent didn’t want the name to change, but Larsen-Rife said only a selected population was surveyed and more than 40 percent of faculty wanted to change it.
“One of the problems of that report is that they only reported local opinion,” Larsen-Rife said. “They reported alumni and students and the community, but Dixie State University is a state university, and it now has a national and international presence, and when we’re operating on a larger stage like that, it’s important to note for the branding perspective, ‘how is this name perceived and how are we responded to on a national and international basis?’”
One well-respected faculty member told Larsen-Rife he recently spoke at a conference where people laughed when the name “Dixie State University” was announced after his name. He said he knew they weren’t listening from that point on.
“I just think that’s a travesty," Larsen-Rife said. "It brings disrespect to the professional work we do here, and it doesn’t bode well for our students."
People have said this is about being politically correct or me being offended. It's not about me being offended. I think it's in the best economic interest of our students and our institution.
–Dannelle Larsen-Rife, DSU associate professor
She also mentioned student and faculty members who avoid using the full name of the university so they don’t have to explain it.
For those who hold the name Dixie dear to their heart, Larsen-Rife mentioned keeping it as a nickname, but helping people understand that world perceptions of the community and university are negative.
“People have said this is about being politically correct or me being offended,” Larsen-Rife said. “It’s not about me being offended. I think it’s in the best economic interest of our students and our institution.”
Larsen-Rife said she thinks there should be a more thorough investigation or study about how the university should proceed with a new name. In the university’s strategic planning process, people have recognized the university’s identity as problematic.
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In light of recent events, such as the tragic Charleston, South Carolina, shooting, Larsen-Rife said Dixie is closely associated for the rest of the country with the Confederacy and now hate crimes.
“I'm not demanding that it be changed in any way shape or form, but I think that very much like the swastika, it had one meaning before Hitler’s regime and has an entirely different meaning now,” Larsen-Rife said. “And I think we just need to have this conversation and really do what’s best for the university, whatever that is.”
Larsen-Rife said the online comments about the subject has brought more of a conflict than it has a discussion, but that she and her colleagues who disagree are able to remain friends. She doesn’t think online forums are particularly helpful but thinks a small community forum might help people listen to each other.
She said approaching the topic with less hostility and defensiveness and being willing to listen to the other side may make for a better conversation.
Contributing: Paul Nelson
