George T. Madison Hall’s Hibernation Celebration
In November, the George T. Madison (GTM) Hall came to life one last time for a Hibernation Celebration. Students, faculty, and staff came together to reflect and pay their respects before the building officially went to sleep ahead of renovations.
In the weeks leading up to the event, GTM had been slowly preparing for upcoming renovations. Faculty began moving out of their offices, lining the hallways with once-forgotten items and dusty books left out for the taking. Students murmured about losing the courtyard where they escaped to study and gather for events. The mood was somber, but the celebration provided the opportunity to reminisce about the good times in the building.
Dean Karl Puljak explained, “There was simply no way we could just pack up and leave GTM without recognizing its importance to our students, our faculty and staff, and our campus. The Hibernation Celebration provided everyone an opportunity to reflect on the decades of memories and to consider the good things that lie ahead upon our return.”
And everyone did just that. The event featured cookies, stickers, and T-shirts depicting a cartoon “sleepy” GTM. Puljak kicked off the event with a eulogy-style speech commemorating the building and encouraging others to reflect on the memories they had made in the space. The large crowd then gathered on the third floor of the building to begin the celebration.
A student-led jazz band guided attendees in a New Orleans-style second-line parade through all three floors of the building. This Louisiana tradition served as a “loud lullaby” for the sleepy building, with students collecting memorabilia along the way.
The event concluded in the courtyard, where the band continued to play songs of celebration. Attendees were encouraged to share their condolences, memories, and well-wishes during an open mic or by writing their messages on the walls of the building.
Rather than a sad goodbye, the Hibernation Celebration offered a pause filled with gratitude and hope for the future. Renovations are just underway and Bulldogs are eager to walk the halls once GTM reawakes.