ST. GEORGE – University and civic officials were present Wednesday for the ribbon-cutting celebrating the recent creation of Dixie State’s Institute of Politics and Public Affairs. It is the Institute’s mission to help increase political engagement on campus and in the community overall.
“We’re excited about this new Institute of Politics and Public Affairs,” Dixie State Pres. Richard “Biff” Williams said.
A new mantra the university has adopted as part of it’s overall branding efforts is “active leaning, active lifestyle,” Williams said. While many may default the active lifestyle part to being physically active, he said there is a lot more to it than that.
“We want our students to be civilly engaged, to volunteer in the community, to understand the issues,” he said. “We want them to get out and vote, and this institute will really be the conduit for that.
The Institute of Politics and Public Affairs is a collaboration among the Dixie State University Student Association and the university’s Government Relations office and the Associate Provost’s Office of Community and Global Engagement. The Institute also seeks to engage with the Southern Utah region to strengthen civic, cultural and economic life.
“Having an institute of politics at DSU is already adding so much to our campus climate,” Dean of Students Del Beatty said in a statement. “It is amazing to see our student body engaged in discussing important topics and learning from the knowledgeable presenters that visit campus.”
The Institute has already engaged the public and students alike this election season by hosting a local legislative candidate debate early this month.
Members of the new institute have also engaged in registering hundreds of students to vote, as well as a bi-monthly forum called “Pizza and Politics” in which various issues are discussed. This Thursday, Utah House Speaker Greg Hughes will be featured at the forum.
“We’ve dedicated an institute that will provide student leadership opportunities, internship opportunities, and specifically for the Southern Utah region, political education and engagement,” said Henrie Walton, director of the Institute of Politics and Public Affairs.
“We really want to work, not only with students at Dixie, but the broader Southern Utah region,” he said, “to talk about tough issues that matter to Southern Utahns, and if we do that, we’re bound to grow and bound to be successful.”
As for appealing to Millennials and getting them involved in the political process, Walton said they are interested, but simply do not realize it yet. Many then to be turned away by the seemingly toxic climate of Washington, D.C. They need to know that, despite the toxicity, they can do something that will make a difference.
“I think it turns off a lot of people who are idealistic, and young people are idealistic,” Walton said.
“If we can help them understand there is a real opportunity to make a difference, they’ll be all about it; they’ll be ready to go,” Walton said.
Congressman Chris Stewart was present at the ribbon-cutting, along with a handful of local municipal and legislative officials. Stewart said it was exciting to see Dixie State establish the new institute.
“This is a great time to be involved,” Stewart said as he primarily addressed university students at the event, “so we’re asking you to (get involved) and that is what this institute will allow you to do.”
Email: mkessler@stgnews.com
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