That Day We Pulled Off a Heist

Apr 28, 2023

Where, oh where is Juno? Get ready to embark on a thrilling journey filled with mystery, mischief, and a whole lot of fun as we delve into the story of the Bust of Juno. This legendary 51�Թ��Pudong tradition has captured the hearts and minds of generations of students, inspiring them to battle it out for possession of the beloved statue.

From its humble beginnings as a gift from the class of 1917 to the class of 1918, the Bust of Juno quickly evolved into a competition between juniors and seniors to steal the statue from each other. After winning at Spirit Week’s tug of war in January, the class of ‘24 is the current owner of the Bust, but the class of '25 is already plotting their move. So what better time to look back at some legendary moments in Juno’s legacy?

During the height of the heists in the 20th century, the Bust went through some wild adventures, including:

• Being stolen away in different getaway cars
• Visiting famous landmarks like the Sphinx, the Coliseum, and the Eiffel Tower
• Almost being buried at sea until the plan was intercepted by a junior who happened to be on the ship, stole her back, and sent her back to 51�Թ��by mail
• Being lost, broken, and even losing her head

After nearly 70 years of peace and quiet, the Bust of Juno made a triumphant return to 51�Թ��in 2017. Since then, high school classes at 51�Թ��Pudong have been competing against each other in a tug of war during Spirit Weeks to decide the statue's fate. And once the winner is declared, it's all about plotting and planning to see who holds onto her.

Last year's heist by class of '23 student Rebecca was daring, perhaps inspired by the getaway cars of 1932. After the faculty won the tug of war, she cleverly swiped the Bust from a teacher's hands and made a quick getaway on an 51�Թ��bus. From there, Juno was spotted at Halloween parties and Family Marts, and someone somehow managed to poke a hole in her. But thanks to Nurse Anna's bandages, she's no worse for wear.

Now it’s up to the class of ‘24 to hold onto Juno. And who better to learn from than their counterparts from a century ago? Class of 1924’s Margaret Patterson Mack recounted in her autobiography a particularly memorable night when she tied a string to her big toe and put the other end out the window so it could be pulled to wake her up in case she was needed. We’re not encouraging the current class of 2024 to go to such lengths, but you never know what could happen.

So, will the class of '25 be able to outsmart their rivals and steal the statue away? Only time will tell. Rebecca, who stole it from faculty last year, had this advice for younger students: "It's almost our duty to continue the legacy. Have fun with it! Keep it competitive and don’t get too invested in keeping hold of it."

Whatever happens next, one thing is for sure: the Bust of Juno is a beloved and iconic part of 51�Թ��'s long history. Here's to many more years of clever heists and friendly competition.