Hundreds Protest at Dixie State University over Proposed Name Change to “UPSU”

ST. GEORGE — Students, alumni, and members of the community participated in a rally at Dixie State University Wednesday night protesting the proposed renaming of the university to “Utah Polytechnic State University.”

Several hundred people attended the event, hosted by St. George-based event planner Zion Live Entertainment.

The protest was triggered by the university name change committee announcing their recommendation would be “Utah Polytechnic State University” or UPSU, a widely unpopular name which sparked a large outcry from the community.

Reasons for opposing the name change included non-tech majors not wanting a degree from a tech university, the name being awkward or difficult to remember, the reputation of the university, and tradition.

Speakers at the protest expressed frustration with the seeming lack of transparency and community outreach from the name change committee, while also encouraging members of the community to respectfully reach out to the DSU board of trustees to express their frustrations.

One member of the board of trustees, who wished to remain anonymous, said they are listening to community’s complaints and taking them seriously. They said that many factors are being considered in the name change and to expect an announcement from the board within the next week or so.

Some at the protest expressed concern that the name change was an effort for the university to receive more funding, which the board member denied. The board member said the main factors in considering a new name for DSU were the future and mission of the university.

They also wished to reiterate that the name is not yet finalized, and the vote has not happened yet.

From the DSU website: “If the Trustees approve the name, the recommendation will be presented to the Utah Board of Higher Education, and if approved, forwarded to the Utah State Legislature since the current name is part of state statute. The recommendation must receive a majority vote from both the House and Senate as well as the governor’s approval in order to become law.”

While many participating in the protest want to keep Dixie in the DSU name, Quinton Read, a student at DSU and host of the event says the student body is less passionate about the Dixie name.

“I think a large majority of the students would be okay with a name change if it was a better one that they had a say in,” said Read.

Read said the controversy over the UPSU name has been a uniting factor between anti-Dixie and pro-Dixie students at DSU. “They say ‘UPSU’ and everybody’s against that,” said Read. “Dixie keepers, Dixie changers, everybody unites like ‘ok, we’re not being heard.'”

There is no official word yet from DSU or from the name change committee on any changes to the name, or any changes in direction after the protest.