Rutgers University in the U.S. state of New Jersey was forced to remove a controversial Jesus "artwork" after students and alumni protested.
The artwork, called the "Vitruvian Man," features Jesus nailed to a dartboard with darts stuck on His wounds.
Natalie Caruso, a graduate of the university, posted photos of the artwork on the Rutgers University Class of 2016 Facebook page.
"This is currently displayed in the Art Library on College Ave. It is surprising that a state university would allow this. I asked them to take it down because I found it disrespectful and they refused. How is this acceptable!?" she asked.
The post received mixed comments.
"As an Orthodox Christian, this just made me cringe!! Where is the art in this?? Plz explain. If you see art, you are either blind, or have no taste in art, or just a hater on religion who uses this as a pathetic excuse to attack religion!! I'm willing to protest this until it's taken down," posted Kirolos Wahba.
Matthew Andrews wrote: "Honestly, if this were Muhammad or some other religious figure there would have been more of an outcry...not to mention wouldn't have been done in the first place."
"It's a piece of art! It seems as though the artist placed the darts in the same spots as the nails were placed in Jesus on the cross—a modern representation of his crucifixion. As a Catholic, I can't say that I'm offended," said Kaylee Little.
The New Brunswick Patch reported that the librarians first moved the artwork and then completely removed it later.
"It did not meet Rutgers University Libraries policy, which requires art exhibitions and their pieces to be based on university events, curricular offerings, and topics of interest to the university community," said Jessica Pellien, director of communications for the library system at Rutgers.
She said they have concluded that the policy the library used to select the artwork for exhibitions was not followed.
