Springville High School (Utah)
Encyclopedia
Springville High School is the only high school
in Springville
, Utah
. Enrollment is 1,256
is the Red Devil. The origin of the mascot name dates back to the original construction of the school, when the Red Devil Cement Company assisted significantly in the building. This became a focal point for controversy in 2002. Some local citizens organized a committee called "Parents for Mascot Review". They argued that the Devil
was an unsavory mascot for teens and interpreted school literature bearing the character "pro devil" paraphernalia. Some claimed that good Latter-day Saints should not support the mascot for its Satan
ic allusion. Other Latter-day Saints disagreed, saying that the church had no official stance on the matter, that the mascot was not satanic, but rather a mythical creature, and that the groups were promoting their own agenda.
Alumni of the school countered that the mascot was not Satanic, and had been the official mascot since 1967 when students voted it in. Further they claimed it was historically significant. The name and image came from Red Devil Cement Co., a historically important employer in Springville.
The debate continued on all fronts. Even a popular local band "The Fifth Normal" wrote a song called "Band for Mascot Review", the lyrics of which sarcastically accused the group "Parents for Mascot Review" of being hypocrites, and of ignoring the real problems facing Springville High School, like drugs and teen pregnancy.
Controversy about the Devil drew national attention when a spokesman for the Navajo Nation
commented against it, claiming that "red devil" is a slur against Native Americans
and should be removed from the school.
Nonetheless, traditionalists carried popular support in a non-binding poll, and the school board voted to retain the mascot in May 2002. In spite of promises by critics to seek school board offices on the issue, the Red Devil remains the school's mascot as of 2010.
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in Springville
Springville, Utah
Springville is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Provo–Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 20,424 at the 2000 census, while the 2008 estimates placed it at 28,520. Just minutes south of Provo, Springville is a bedroom community for...
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
. Enrollment is 1,256
Mascot
Springville's mascotMascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
is the Red Devil. The origin of the mascot name dates back to the original construction of the school, when the Red Devil Cement Company assisted significantly in the building. This became a focal point for controversy in 2002. Some local citizens organized a committee called "Parents for Mascot Review". They argued that the Devil
Devil
The Devil is believed in many religions and cultures to be a powerful, supernatural entity that is the personification of evil and the enemy of God and humankind. The nature of the role varies greatly...
was an unsavory mascot for teens and interpreted school literature bearing the character "pro devil" paraphernalia. Some claimed that good Latter-day Saints should not support the mascot for its Satan
Satan
Satan , "the opposer", is the title of various entities, both human and divine, who challenge the faith of humans in the Hebrew Bible...
ic allusion. Other Latter-day Saints disagreed, saying that the church had no official stance on the matter, that the mascot was not satanic, but rather a mythical creature, and that the groups were promoting their own agenda.
Alumni of the school countered that the mascot was not Satanic, and had been the official mascot since 1967 when students voted it in. Further they claimed it was historically significant. The name and image came from Red Devil Cement Co., a historically important employer in Springville.
The debate continued on all fronts. Even a popular local band "The Fifth Normal" wrote a song called "Band for Mascot Review", the lyrics of which sarcastically accused the group "Parents for Mascot Review" of being hypocrites, and of ignoring the real problems facing Springville High School, like drugs and teen pregnancy.
Controversy about the Devil drew national attention when a spokesman for the Navajo Nation
Navajo Nation
The Navajo Nation is a semi-autonomous Native American-governed territory covering , occupying all of northeastern Arizona, the southeastern portion of Utah, and northwestern New Mexico...
commented against it, claiming that "red devil" is a slur against Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
and should be removed from the school.
Nonetheless, traditionalists carried popular support in a non-binding poll, and the school board voted to retain the mascot in May 2002. In spite of promises by critics to seek school board offices on the issue, the Red Devil remains the school's mascot as of 2010.
Athletics
Former principal, Rick Robins hired Scott Mitchell as Head Football Coach in 2008. The hire came about after the sudden and unexpected firing of two-season coach Dan Hansen. Under Hansen in 2007, the Red Devils posted 2 wins and 8 losses. Scott Mitchell, a former SHS QB who led the Red Devils to their only state title in the 80's, was also a former QB for the University of Utah and a 12 year QB in the NFL before leaving behind a real estate job in Florida to come coach the Red Devils. While the hire is yet to be seen by some as anything other than a high-profile, visual hire, the community is hopeful that Scott Mitchell will prove to do something positive for the SHS football program and its students. In Coach Mitchell's first year as head coach of the Red Devils (2008), the team posted 6 wins and 5 losses while returning the program to the 4A state playoffs. At this point, the hire appears to be successful. The Red Devils have also enjoyed great success in athletics in recent years. Under girls basketball coach Nancy Warner and former BYU Cougar, the lady Red Devils finished the 2008-09 campaign as the state 4A tournament runner-up. The Red Devil swim team has continued its dominance by winning back to back boys 4A state championships in 2008 and 2009 under coach Amy Hargett. The Red Devils have also posted region championships recently in girls soccer, boys golf, volleyball, boys swimming, and girls basketball.- School Colors: Red and Blue
- Motto:Dedicated to Excellence – United in Service – Educated for Success