If you have walked around campus recently, you have likely noticed the construction happening behind many of the fraternity houses on Ukrop Way. Rising in their shadow is a brand-new fleet of dorms, set to open next fall. While this marks an exciting new chapter for the College of William and Mary’s community, it also signals the end of a cherished era and the loss of spaces that, for generations, have fostered connection and felt like home.
One of those spaces soon to be replaced is the Green and Gold Village. The current GGV Community Council hosted a farewell ceremony Sunday, April 27 in anticipation of the upcoming demolition. The event, which had been in the works since October, was designed as a celebration of the life and legacy of GGV.
Community Council President Frank Herman ’28 described the motivation behind the event.
“The impetus behind doing so was that I think GGV deserves such a celebration of life,” Herman said.
Held on the Intramural Field adjacent to GGV, the ceremony featured live music and had impressive attendance. The attire was black tie optional. Former and current residents gathered to honor the space, reminiscing and sharing laughs.
Originally built in 1965, GGV has long held a special place in the hearts of both alumni and current students. First used as fraternity housing and later converted into freshman dorms, this complex has seen thousands of residents, absorbed countless stories and served as the setting for decades of unforgettable memories. Though beloved by many, not everyone was immediately fond of its quirks.
“Griffin D was nothing like I expected it to be,” former resident Solana Neeley ’27 said. “I was scared and upset when I found out I was going to be living in GGV, but I think it was very formative to my time here at William and Mary, and it has made me some of my best friends and best memories.”
Veronika Owen ’28 had a similar favorite part of living in GGV.
“It’s definitely not the architecture, it’s definitely not the plumbing — but the people are pretty great,” Owen said.
Like Neeley and Owen, many former residents agree: It’s not the buildings themselves, but the people inside them who made GGV feel like home.
One particularly meaningful part of the event invited attendees to write their favorite GGV memory on a sticky note, which they then placed in a time capsule — a gesture aimed at preserving the spirit of GGV for years to come.
“I really like having everyone write their favorite memory and put it in a time capsule. I’m definitely going to go back and read those later,” Herman said.
After about 30 minutes of live music, speeches began. The first was a poem inspired by Dr. Seuss’s “Green Eggs and Ham,” cleverly tied to the GGV experience. This was followed by a eulogy given by Herman, who reflected on the ways GGV fostered community and served as an irreplaceable part of the freshman experience.
To commemorate the event, attendees received gold cups featuring a graphic of the GGV sign and lime green wristbands that read, “I survived GGV.” A reception in Tazewell Hall followed, complete with pizza, chicken fingers, cake and drinks.
Not every resident is mourning the end. Some, like Owen, acknowledge the need for change.
“Of course, these dorms are 50 years old. They were frat houses beforehand. Obviously they have a lot of history: good, bad, ambivalent. I think for the sake of future generations, it’s time for it to go,” Owen said.
The new West Woods housing complex will open next year and house 935 students. Whether it will foster the same close-knit environment that defined GGV remains uncertain for Neeley.
“Honestly, I don’t think it will be the same in the newer dorms,” Neeley said. “I think the reason that community was so strong in GGV was because people wanted to be in the lounge where they weren’t stuck in their small, damp, moldy rooms, but instead were with other people in a large, bright, AC-filled space.”
While newer, more modern dorms may offer comfort, they may not replicate the sense of community that arose from shared challenges. Still, there is hope that the next generation of students will forge their own version of GGV’s spirit.
As a final reflection at the funeral, attendees were asked to describe GGV in one word.
“I would say large. Large in every sense of the word — large in personalities, large in size, large in population, large community,” Herman said.
Owen added her own heartfelt summary of the distinct dorm experience.
“I feel like GGV kind of just sums up what it means to be the Tribe, you know? You’re in a community together — there are ups, there are downs — but through it all, you make it work and you have fun along the way,” Owen said.
As students say goodbye to GGV, what remains is a deep sense of gratitude for the friendships formed, the stories shared and the legacy left behind. The buildings may be forever removed, but the spirit of GGV will live on in the hearts of those who called it home.
