Founder’s Library at Howard University.

U.S. Department of State (IIP Bureau) / Flickr

Earlier this week, DCist reported on Howard University students’ frustration over the way that neighbors use The Yard at the center of campus as a place to exercise, spread out a picnic basket, or—most especially—walk their dog.

Students said that when they see residents of Shaw, LeDroit Park, and Pleasant Plains trot their dogs on The Yard, it feels “disrespectful.”

“You know this is a university. You know this is a historically black university. And you feel so entitled that you’re just going to walk your dog there?” said Briana Littlejohn, a graduating senior at Howard.

One neighbor’s response? If Howard doesn’t like it, Howard can move.

“They’re in part of D.C. so they have to work within D.C.,” a white Bloomingdale resident told Fox 5 reporter Tisha Lewis. “If they don’t want to be within D.C., then move the campus.”

https://twitter.com/AngieAngeAM/status/1119209400856608768

It sparked immediate outrage:

And the resident’s comment crystallizes a familiar tension: that the area’s longtime black culture and spaces are being displaced and marginalized by newer, white neighbors.

It played out at the street corner just a few blocks from campus earlier this month. The go-go beats that have been a mainstay of the intersection at 7th and Florida Ave for two decades were turned off at the apparent threat of a lawsuit from a new resident.

“You moved in this area. This is the culture—this is the experience, the ambience that drew you here,” said Ward 6 resident GiGi Thorne at a rally to save the music (it has since returned). “It’s not fair for you to try to stop the culture of D.C.”

Julien Broomfield, a senior at Howard University, first drew widespread attention to the lack of music on Twitter, where she started the Don’t Mute D.C. hashtag. She also spoke to DCist about the tensions at Howard.

“I would like to see [residents] on campus. I would never want to say ‘no you’re not welcome here,’” she said about Howard’s neighbors. “I would just like to see more engagement with students … more of an understanding of what we use The Yard for and what it means to us. Then they’ll see like maybe coming onto The Yard and walking the dog isn’t cool.”

The university also weighed in on the conversation.

“We are aware of the concerns regarding dog walking across campus. Howard is a private institution nestled in the heart of an urban city and we’ve shared a long-standing positive relationship with our evolving community for more than 150 years,” wrote President Wayne Frederick in a statement. “We recognize that service animals are a necessary aspect of modern-day life and we will accommodate them as needed. We appreciate pet owners respecting our campus by not bringing pets onto the private areas.”

Previously: New Neighbors Keep Walking Their Dogs On Howard’s Campus. Students Say It’s Disrespectful

This story has been updated with comment from Howard. 

Filed Under: howard university, ledroit park, Shaw,