ST. GEORGE – Dixie State College of Utah is no more. With the stroke of a pen, Gov. Gary Herbert created Dixie State University Saturday morning.
Government and school officials, students, alumni and members of the community packed the Grand Foyer of the Eccles Fine Art Center to witness the governor sign House Bill 61, the bill granting university status and a revised name to the institution.
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Videocast by Sarafina Amodt, St. George News
“(This is) a signature day for us here,” City of St. George Mayor Daniel McArthur said. “What a great day for Dixie.”
Dixie State College President Stephen Nadauld echoed the mayor’s words. “This is just a great day for Dixie – an unbelievable day in the region,” he said.
McArthur said he was looking forward to the future of the new university, though added there was still work to do to help people from outside the region understand what Dixie means to the community.
Various officials spoke during the time leading up to the signing. Among them were Rep. Don Ipson and Sen. Steve Urquhart, who sponsored and co-sponsored HB 61 in the Utah Legislature.
“It’s a fantastic day,” Urquhart said. He reflected on the school’s past, and spoke on looking forward to the future, saying, with Dixie State’s new status, the future was getting brighter.
Herbert cited Urquhart’s words, adding that the people who had founded Dixie State, and Utah as a whole, not only cared about today, but cared about tomorrow as well. Dixie State’s elevation to university status was evidence that the people involved in the process certainly did care about those who would come after them.
As Dixie State University, Herbert said the institution would also continue to help the state’s goal of getting two-thirds of Utah’s population some form of post-high school certificates and degrees by 2020.
Bringing his speech to a close, Herbert congratulated the new-found university.
“Congratulations to Dixie State University,” he said to a standing ovation and a rain of cheers.
The crowded exploded once again as the governor, surrounded by Ipson, Urquhart, Nadauld and others, sat at a table and signed the paperwork doing away with Dixie State College of Utah, and created Dixie State University in its place.
Related:
- Utah legislature passes bill granting Dixie State’s new name, university status
- Imminent university status spawns programs, endowments; legislation seeks $4 Mil. transitional funding
- Utah Board of Regents brings DSC one step closer to Dixie State University; STGnews videocast
- DSC Trustees unanimous: University status, ‘Dixie State University;’ STGnews videocast
- Applause and song resound, Dixie name change survey results; STGnews Videocast and Photo Gallery
- OP-ED: Final call to action; Washington County Minority Coalition on Dixie name change
- Council resolution recommends ‘Dixie’ remain in university name
- Dixie State College announces name change survey results
- What the HAYnes? White Elephants and firemen
- Dixie-ites dead set on name retention at Sorenson forum; STGnews Videocast
- Silent vigil focuses on Dixie State name change; STGnews videocast
- Perspectives: Reading old books, an antidote to thought control
- On the EDge: Be a ‘real’ Rebel, accept Dixie name change
- Letter to the Editor: Restore Dixie; bring back the Rebel and the Confederate statue
- ON Kilter: When a sculptor shapes public perception, who speaks for whom?
- Confederate soldiers come tumbling down; Dixie State College feeling the heat?
- Perspectives: Dixie State College, resisting the tyranny of the minority
- ON Kilter: Dixie State; there’s more at stake than a name
- Letter to the Editor: Minority Coalition stance on college name change
- Dixie State students convene over school name change
- Name change forum, Dixie State College encourages public input on university transition
- Dixie State College launches name change survey, seeks public input
St. George News Assistant Editor Mori Kessler contributed to this story.
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