"The painting was first] taken downinappropriately and without my authorization,"said Unit Manager Charles R. Lambert, who runs theLowell dining hall.
"I wanted to speak with the students before itwas taken down," he added.
Lambert said he left a message with one studentand then chose to go ahead and remove the picture.
"I don't want anyone to be offended," he said."I want to create a happy atmosphere in my dininghall."
Students said they were pleased to learn theposter has been removed.
"I've always thought it's inappropriate," saidLowell resident Jill MacQuarrie '00, who is white.
"With all the black fieldworkers., it suggeststimes of slavery," she said.
But many students said they had never noticedthe colorful poster before it was removed.
"It I didn't even see it, it probably wasn'tthat important," said Nicole M. Christoff '00, whois white.
The Painting was replaced by a watercolorocean-side scene of flower vases