The Howard University Bisonette Alumn released a petition and statement calling to halt Spring 2023 auditions for the Howard dance group on March 31. Bisonette Alumni claims the current coaches of the university dance team have erased its 30-year reputation and legacy.

According to The Bisonette Alumni Organization (B-Alum), several Bisonettes and B-Alum met on multiple occasions with the Office of Student Affairs in the Fall of 2022. The meetings were mainly to gain transparency on why the university took the position to change the structure of the organization and not allow for 2022-2023 elected team captains to work in collaboration with the University.

“In communication with Dr. Evers and Lawan Lanier-Smith, it was expressed that their office wanted no involvement from the new team with the Bisonette Alum”, said LaShaun Dodds, founder of the Bisonettes and president of the Bisonette Alumni organization. “They even communicated to the dancers on the new team not to have any engagement with the Bisonette Alum and made them somewhat uncomfortable reaching out or speaking to us.”

The lack of connection between the alumni and the current team was also mentioned in the statement released on Instagram.  “We feel that the actions taken against the organization were grossly egregious and provided no resolve or transparency from Howard. What it has provided is division and confusion among students and alumni,” said Dodds.

“As an alum, seeing these obviously talented dancers being led by the blind is painful to watch. Our only goal was always to assist and support the current team and university leadership made it evident that they were opposed to that from the beginning of this “rebrand”, said a former Bisonette captain. 

Dodds also expressed that the B-Alum wants to see a coaching staff with “formidable dance training” that “honors the legacy of the organization.” 

“Dancers within the organization carry an average of ten years of dance training and choreography experience when walking on the team. This speaks measures to the type of leadership and coaching staff required to sustain the artistic legacy of the organization. Right now, all leadership over the Bisonettes are non-Howard alum with no formal dance training,” Dodds said.

While the B-Alum does not have anyone in particular in mind for the coaching staff, they would like to work with the university to select candidates. 

The B-Alum also wants community outreach initiatives to be reimplemented.

“The tradition of community outreach is crucial because there were no other dance groups on campus that did outreach through the arts to the extent that Bisonettes has. Giving back to our community, to schools, and to youth was a part of our mission. As an HBCU technically skilled dance team, we focused our talents not just on dance but on providing opportunities which could open the door for future black and brown dancers and future Bisonettes,” said an anonymous Bisonette Alum representative. 

Dodds emphasized the importance of maintaining the historical integrity of the dance team. “The Bisonettes’ organizational culture, as it was established, provides a unique space for students of diverse areas of study to continue developing their dance training, choreography, and artistry while pursuing their degrees. Just as HBCUs helped black Americans pursue an education and career, the Howard University Bisonettes created career pathway opportunities for students at Howard. Just as black history is American history, so is Howard University Bisonettes' history Howard History. It is a disgrace for any University to intentionally dismiss the contributions of its own students/alumni. It promotes division and confusion. ”

Current Bisonette team members as well as the coaching and coordinating staff declined to comment on the matter. The current Bisonette coaching and coordinating staff also have not publicly responded to the petition or its demands. Spring 2023 auditions for the Bisonette team were held from March 31 to April 2, despite the B-Alum’s efforts to halt them.

The B-Alum’s petition currently has 1,176 signatures, just a few hundred away from their goal of 1,500.

“If demands are met, our start would be developing a cooperative partnership with Howard University to support the Bisonettes both financially and organizationally, with emphasis on rebuilding its artistic standards and reputation,” Dodds said.

The organization chose not to disclose what is next on the agenda after the petition, but guaranteed “there definitely will be next steps.”