Opting for money over milk cartons, Northwestern is offering a $500 reward for information that leads to the return of Moo@NU.

Hoping the victim of last week’s cow-napping has not yet moved to the great pasture in the sky, Norris University Center erected on its main floor a shrine to Moo@NU, including a mug shot and angry letters from the community about the disappearance.

While last year’s Cows on Parade survived unscathed in Chicago, “Moo@NU could not make it for more than 20 days … on the campus of NU,” wrote Patsy Thrash, an Education sophomore.

Bill Johnston, director of Norris University Center, branded the pranksters “cowardly” in a letter to the NU community.

As a result of the vandalism, three hooves, each standing about 9 inches high, remained loosely fastened to the 200-pound base on Sunday.

Students said the reward could help NU milk information from informants.

Speech sophomore Justin Mool said the size of the reward was appropriate, but if the cow-nappers were his friends, no amount of money could persuade him to turn them in.

Speech freshman Marina Squerciati said she would take the bull by the horns if she knew the culprit, even if it were a friend.

“I need $500,” she said.

Cow-tipsters are asked to call University Police at (847) 491-3254 or Johnston at (847) 491-2325 if they know anything about Moo@NU’s whereabouts.