Rumors and rumors of rumors flew around school all morning, whispers in the halls, discussions in class. It was all anyone could talk about until president Nan Bone came on the announcements to deliver the news.

“Our beloved campus cat, Critter, has passed away.”

For anyone who doesn’t regularly walk the campus, Critter was adopted as the STA campus cat years ago after students and faculty continually noticed and became used to the feline spending his days strolling the campus. Critter belonged to neighbors by night (now sophomore Mattie Davis) but the STA community by day.

After his official adoption as the pet of STA, Critter inspired love from every corner of Windmoor campus. The Dart created “Critter’s Corner,” a comical issuely brief on what the cat was up to. Principal for student affairs Mary Anne Hoecker was known for visiting her feline friend at his hangout. A sizable “cat house” was even placed in the front of the Donnelly Building this school year.

Next year, a new generation will enter STA. One that never walked the halls with our beloved kitty, one that never entered Donnelly front office just pet him, one that never joked about our special little mascot.

The point is, they won’t know what they missed. We’ll all miss Critter. I don’t care what you say, Lil Bits won’t be able to replace him.

Critter was more than a school-wide inside joke. Yes, he caused obsessions among students (and, ahem, faculty) but mostly, Critter bonded us and brought us closer.

So thank you, Critter, thank you and good-bye.

Please comment below with your favorite memories of Critter, or feel free to contact me at [email protected]