School Spotlight
Dixie State University
Speech Code Rating
- At present, FIRE does not maintain information on this school's policies.
Dixie State University – Stand Up For Speech Lawsuit
March 3, 2015
Students at Dixie State University filed a First Amendment lawsuit against their university with assistance from FIRE.
Dixie State University: School Rejects Student Group Because Its Name Includes Greek Letters
August 19, 2013
Dixie State University student Indigo Klabanoff contacted school administrators to discuss the possibility of forming a sorority on campus, but was rejected because her group had Greek letters in its name.
In new court filing, FIRE supports professor fired for criticizing his university and refusing to sign restrictive ‘Last Chance Agreement’
October 8, 2020
In a “friend-of-the-court” brief filed this week with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, FIRE argued that a federal district court failed to properly analyze professor Ken Peterson’s First Amendment claims against Dixie State University, his former employer. Dixie State earned a place on FIRE’s 2019 list of the “10 Worst Colleges… Read more
10 Worst Colleges for Free Speech: 2019
February 12, 2019
Every January, FIRE staffers convene to compile our list of the previous year’s worst colleges for free speech. Reviewing the lowlights of the year reminds each of us that campus censors can be pretty creative. Just when you think you’ve seen everything — and over FIRE’s 20-year history, we’ve seen a lot — some enterprising… Read more
On Student Press Freedom Day, a look back at censorship in 2018
January 30, 2019
Despite what you may have heard in school, America is (by some measures) not home to the freest press in the world. Since 2013, the United States’ press freedom ranking tumbled 13 spots to 45th globally. And freedom of the press is even more attenuated for student reporters, who face additional hurdles from administrators, legislators,… Read more
Dixie State faces legislative scrutiny after attempting to terminate professor
September 21, 2018
Dixie State University is starting to feel the heat for undermining academic freedom. Right now, the Utah State Senate, the American Association of University Professors, and Dixie State’s own faculty are speaking out in support of former tenured professor Ken Peterson, whose mistreatment by the university administration has become a rallying cry for protecting academic… Read more
How far will Dixie State University go to fire a tenured professor? Ask Ken Peterson
August 10, 2018
At the American Association of University Professors’ Academe blog, John K. Wilson has been following a troubling case involving the abrupt termination of two Dixie State University music professors. The termination of one in particular, tenured professor Ken Peterson, has free speech and academic freedom advocates deeply concerned. In early March 2018, DSU issued termination… Read more
‘Censored in America’: ‘Fox News’ Special to Report on Dixie State Lawsuit
October 9, 2015
Why did a group of students decide to stand up for their free speech rights and sue their college? Tune into Fox News Channel at 8 p.m. Eastern time tomorrow to find out. Dixie State students and Young Americans for Liberty (“YAL”) members William and Joey Jergins will sit down with John Stossel to talk… Read more
VICTORY: Lawsuit Settlement Restores Free Speech Rights at Dixie State U. After Censorship of Bush, Obama, Che Flyers
September 17, 2015
Dixie State agrees to revise restrictive speech policies, pay $50,000 in damages and attorney’s fees University claimed Bush, Obama, Che flyers “mock[ed]” individuals Lawsuit is seventh consecutive victory for FIRE’s undefeated litigation project ST. GEORGE, Utah, September 17, 2015—Dixie State University’s 8,570 students have a special reason to celebrate Constitution Day today after their university… Read more
Dixie State U., Cal Poly Pomona Suspend Restrictive Speech Codes in Wake of FIRE-Led Lawsuits
May 7, 2015
PHILADELPHIA, May 7, 2015—Dixie State University in Utah and California State Polytechnic University, Pomona have both agreed this week to suspend numerous policies that substantially restrict students’ free speech rights on campus. The policy suspensions result from lawsuits filed this year as part of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education’s (FIRE’s) Stand Up For… Read more
After Lawsuit’s Filing, Dixie State Suspends Restrictive Speech Codes, Plans to Revise Policies
May 5, 2015
ST. GEORGE, Utah, May 5, 2015—Dixie State University has announced that it will suspend the unconstitutional speech codes that three students challenged in a First Amendment lawsuit filed in March. The lawsuit, which is supported by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), targeted Dixie State’s unconstitutional flyer approval process, posting policies, “free speech… Read more
Media Report on Latest Stand Up For Speech Case: Censorship at Dixie State
March 18, 2015
Earlier in the month, students William Jergins, Joey Gillespie, and Forrest Gee filed a First Amendment lawsuit against Utah’s Dixie State University, the eighth and most recent suit filed as part of FIRE’s Stand Up For Speech Litigation Project. We at FIRE are no strangers to the argument that campuses must be a “safe space”… Read more
Students Sue Dixie State U. Over ‘Free Speech Zone,’ Censorship of Bush, Obama, Che Flyers
March 4, 2015
ST. GEORGE, Utah, March 4, 2015—Students filed a First Amendment lawsuit today against Utah’s Dixie State University, with assistance from the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE). The lawsuit challenges numerous unconstitutional restrictions that Dixie State, a repeat offender against freedom of speech, has placed on the First Amendment rights of Dixie State students…. Read more
Dixie State’s Refusal to Recognize First Amendment Gains More Attention
January 16, 2014
Last week, a new semester began at Dixie State University, and while the classes may have changed, the school’s refusal to uphold its students’ First Amendment rights to free expression and free association remains the same. After senior Indigo Klabanoff re-applied for official recognition for her student group, Phi Beta Pi, FIRE wrote a third letter to the school on December… Read more
The 10 Worst Colleges for Free Speech: 2013
December 27, 2013
College is where inquisitive minds go to be exposed to new ways of thinking. But on some campuses, the quest for knowledge is frustrated when administrators censor speech they would prefer be kept out of the marketplace of ideas. To close out the year, we at the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) want to highlight… Read more
Dixie State Dean Relies on Attorney General’s Incorrect Legal Analysis
November 13, 2013
Despite continuing pressure on Dixie State University administrators to acknowledge and uphold students’ First Amendment rights to free expression and freedom of association, Dixie State has reiterated its refusal to officially recognize student group Phi Beta Pi because the group name has Greek letters in it. According to the Dixie Sun News student newspaper, Dean of Students Del Beatty won’t… Read more
Dixie State Students For Liberty Collect Over 200 Signatures Supporting Phi Beta Pi
November 7, 2013
The student organization Students For Liberty (SFL) at Dixie State University gathered signatures on Tuesday for a petition in support of Phi Beta Pi, asking the school to change the student organization bylaws that prohibit officially recognized non-academic groups from using Greek letters in their names. SFL Vice President Jeff Peterson led the campaign and gathered over 200… Read more
Dixie State Admins Make Conflicting Statements and Impossible Requests
November 4, 2013
For months, Dixie State University administrators have repeatedly told student Indigo Klabanoff that her student group, Phi Beta Pi, could not be officially recognized by the school because its name includes Greek letters. Since FIRE issued a press release about the situation last week, Dixie State administrators have been scrambling to justify their actions—one making impossible demands of Phi… Read more
Dixie State Dean of Students Continues Throwing Spaghetti at the Wall
October 31, 2013
Yesterday, FIRE released a new video on Dixie State University student Indigo Klabanoff’s push against the university after it denied recognition to her student organization because there are Greek letters (Phi Beta Pi) in its name. Dixie State administrators repeatedly told Klabanoff that campus clubs may not have Greek letters in their names because they would convey the image… Read more
Dixie State University Bans an Alphabet, Tells Women They Can’t Use Greek Letters in Club Name
October 30, 2013
Nineteen female Dixie State University students are being forced to fight their own school for the right to use Greek letters in the name of their organization. Indigo Klabanoff and the members of Phi Beta Pi have repeatedly been denied official recognition because administrators feel that the use of Greek letters in an organization name will give Dixie State a “party school” image.
No Greek Letters Allowed on One Public Campus
October 30, 2013
A student group at a public university in Utah has been told that it may not use Greek letters in its name. Why? Because the university believes that Greek letters will give the public the impression that it is a “party school” and, according to a lawyer for the university, the school has a “compelling… Read more
Dixie State Rejects Sorority Because Its Name Includes Greek Letters
August 27, 2013
For nearly a year, Dixie State University senior Indigo Klabanoff has been working to start a local sorority at her public Utah university that would be dedicated to providing services for the community and learning opportunities for its members. Dixie State administrators have flatly stated that Klabanoff’s sorority, Phi Beta Pi, will not be approved… Read more
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