Rutgers Removes Jesus Art After Public Outcry

Rutgers - Rutgers University removed a provocative and controversial piece of artwork this week from the campus library after many said it offended them.

The artwork, called "Vitruvian Man," is a sculpture of Jesus Christ crucified on a dartboard. Instead of nails, red darts have been placed in his chest, hands and feet, with blood dripping from the stab wounds. See the artwork here.

The sculpture was first hung in the Art Library on Voorhees Mall in the center of campus, and almost immediately, it stirred a public backlash.

"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!?," asked Rutgers graduate Natalie Caruso.

Caruso posted photos of "Vitruvian Man" on Facebook and the thread received hundreds of comments. Many argued it should be taken down, and others said freedom of artistic expression means putting up with art that offends you.

"You are in an art library displaying a form of art. Maybe it is offensive but a lot of art is," said Julio Perez.

"An art library is a location specifically designated for art and art can (and most of the time is) be profoundly offensive. The purpose of art is to incite an emotion and make a statement. Some good, some bad. I mean, people used to be executed for making art contradictory to their nations propaganda," pointed out Parth Mehrotra.

"You're going to go through life seeing lots of things that disrespect you. The world does not revolve around one person. Live and learn!," Erica Steeber wrote.

Others vehemently disagreed.

"Disgusting, disturbing, and offensive. It's a public university. You're right. That is why I deserve to feel safe in my own school that I pay thousands of dollars to attend just as much as anyone else in this school. Being tolerant of others means respecting everyone in your community. Plain and simple," said Odalys Jimenez-Castano.

"Imagine the backlash if this was a piece of art depicting a dart in an Islamic religious item...," wrote Kyle Raymond.

Rutgers first moves, then takes down the art

At first, librarians moved "Vitruvian Man" from prominent spot near the circulation desk to a lower shelf farther away. But then on Thursday, they took it down entirely.

"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 the school.

"How artwork is selected for inclusion in an exhibit takes into consideration freedom of expression as well as the criteria listed above," she continued. "We have concluded that the policy and process the Libraries use to select artwork for exhibitions was not followed."

Photo: Stock image of a Jesus Christ sculpture. Not that actual art in question. To see that, go here.