In what the Loyola community is already calling “the most alarming incident” in recent years, the disappearance of Joe Cub has left the school in shambles. Joe was reported missing late Tuesday afternoon following his electric appearance during Cura Day, leaving students and faculty in a state of collective distress.
Joe Cub is a beloved figure among the Loyola community, and his impact throughout his career has been nothing short of extraordinary. Whether it is leading pep rallies with unmatched energy or saving a cat from a burning building on the corner of Venice, Joe has always shown up. He has never missed a game, never missed a rally, and, until last Tuesday, had never once failed to help a student open a stuck locker.
Junior Andrew Goldman ‘27, visibly shaken during a brief interview outside of Loyola Hall, said, “Joe Cub was the light whenever my day was dark.” He then excused himself to go cry somewhere private.
Joe was last seen at approximately 4:47 P.M. on April 21st, crouched beside the swimming pool lockers, helping a student who had forgotten his locker combination. By 5:00 P.M., Joe was gone. The locker, sources confirm, remains unopened to this day.
Loyola High School released a formal statement early Wednesday morning: “We are deeply saddened by the disappearance of Joe Cub. That is why it is especially important, in times like these, to have the help of every Loyola student. We will be conducting a mass search and rescue operation in place of school on April 30th. If you have any information on the whereabouts of Joe, please contact the front office. Keep Joe in your prayers.”
The announcement was met with a moment of silence across the entire school. The student body has been deeply affected. Teachers across departments report that students have been unable to focus in class—staring blankly at whiteboards, abandoning half-finished essays, and in one case, simply walking out of the classroom, leaving unanswered equations behind while stating, “None of it matters right now.”
“He is more than a mascot,” said Nicholas Kassabian ‘27, arms crossed, making it clear this was not up for debate.
The Loyola counseling office has seen unprecedented activity, with a line stretching from the Ardolf Building all the way to Loyola Hall throughout the week. Appointments that once took days to schedule are now booking three weeks out.
Not everyone has been consumed by the crisis. One anonymous counselor, interviewed between meetings, offered his own perspective: “It’s just a mascot.” He has since been fired for reasons of emotional insanity.
The April 30th search operation is still scheduled. Participation, although optional, is being described by students as “an expression of Loyola virtues, and being a man for others.” If you have any information regarding Joe’s whereabouts, contact the front office.
Bring our mascot home.
