Title: The Dignity Index at University of Utah – A Costly Experiment in Civility? The University of Utah has recently launched an ambitious program called “The Dignity Index,” which aims to rate the civility of political and social discourse on campus. With a hefty price tag of $400,000 per year for equipment and personnel, this eight-point scale measures how people communicate during disagreements, ranging from total contempt (score 1) to showing dignity towards everyone regardless of their views (score 8). The Dignity Index was initially introduced as a pilot project in 2022 by the University of Utah and Project UNITE, a nonprofit organization that created this unique scoring system. The partnership aimed at using the index during Utah’s congressional mid-term elections to score political speeches based on their level of civility. However, since then, it has expanded its reach into 25 states with touch points across various educational institutions. Tami Pyfer, Chief External Affairs Officer and co-creator of the Dignity Index, believes that this initiative was established “to establish the validity of the Dignity Index itself.” While the concept behind The Dignity Index seems noble – promoting respectful dialogue among students and faculty members – its implementation raises several questions. Firstly, is it really necessary to spend such a substantial amount on what essentially boils down to teaching basic communication skills? Secondly, will this program encourage more open discussions or stifle them due to fear of being scored low? From a historical perspective, universities have always been hubs for intellectual debate and exchange of ideas. However, in recent years, there has been an increasing trend towards censorship and suppression of dissenting views on campuses worldwide. Programs like The Dignity Index may unintentionally contribute to this culture by creating a chilling effect where students might self-censor their opinions out of fear of being labeled as uncivil or disrespectful. In conclusion, while the intention behind The Dignity Index is commendable, its execution raises concerns about cost efficiency and potential implications on academic freedom. It remains to be seen how effective this program will be in promoting civility without stifling intellectual discourse. As with any new initiative, it’s crucial for universities to carefully evaluate the pros and cons before implementing such programs across their campuses.
Source: [Original Article](https://www.foxnews.com/media/university-utah-spends-400k-year-new-dignity-index-scoring-political-speech)
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