A handful of residents in Springville and surrounding areas believe the Red Devil mascot is offensive and divisive to the spirit of the community. We, however, hold a different opinion.
The mascot itself is inherently nothing more than that, a mascot. Its purpose is to serve as a unifying symbol between and a rallying point for the student body, the students' parents and everyone else in the community. Those residents offended by the mascot quickly point out that since not everyone is comfortable with the mascot and what it represents to them, then its power is divisive and not uniting.
We believe the Red Devil mascot represents something completely different and desirable to many future and current students, alumni and their respective families. Along with the mascot comes the pride of being a student, parent, business entity or other individual associated with Springville High School. That pride or self-respect, called "Red Devil pride," has existed since the inception of the school and continues to rapidly expand with this debacle staged by the skeptics.
We expect that Springville High School and Nebo School District will make every attempt to resolve the situation expeditiously and with fairness after publicly hearing both sides of the issue. Ignoring the community as a whole and relying exclusively upon the heated opinion of a few sparks is nothing short of playing with fire.
We object to change the mascot of Springville High School.
Bill and Heather Justesen
Payson
Craig and Jodie Allred
Springville
and 46 others