Tufts University says it will remove murals with "not a single image of a person of color," saying the images "do not reflect the diverse and inclusive culture of the university they know today."
In an announcement, the university said it "must be noted . . . that as a matter of historical record the murals tell an incomplete story about the origins and growth of Tufts."
"There is not a single image of a person of color, for example, despite the fact that black students were enrolled at Tufts as early as the late 19th century, according to university archives," the announcement reads.
The move follows backlash in recent years from members of the university community who "have come forward to say that the murals do not reflect the diverse and inclusive culture of the university they know today," the university said.
The removal from Alumnae Hall was first reported by Newsweek.
Alumnae Hall was built in 1955, and the murals were based on students who sat for artists and photographs. Many "likenesses of Tufts figures emerged clearly," but "the artists made no attempt to paint direct portraits," the university conceded.
"We recognize that for many these murals are now, in their own right, part of Tufts' history. . . . Today, however, our perspectives on history must encompass diverse experiences that we do not see reflected in the murals," university President Anthony Monaco declared.
The murals will be professionally conserved and protected, he said.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.