Two 80-year old works of art, beautifully depicting the French fur trade with Native Americans hangs on the wall at the University of Milwaukee-Stout. Two foreign cultures conducting commerce on the American frontier — how could students be expected to study with such offensive imagery close at hand?

After actual student complaints, the University of Milwaukee-Stout has removed the two murals from its halls.

“There’s a segment of Native American students, that when they look at the art … they feel bad.”

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The works were commissioned in 1936 and were painted by Wisconsin born artist Cal Peters. They show French traders canoeing alongside Native Americans in the Red Cedar River. The paintings are 6 feet tall and 18 feet across.

As to the reason why they were removed, Chancellor Bob Meyer said it had upset some of the students.

“There’s a segment of Native American students, that when they look at the art, to them it symbolizes an era of their history where land and possessions were taken away from them,” Meyer said according to Wisconsin Public Radio. “They feel bad when they look at them.”

Cal Peters, Painting, Mural, Micheals Hall
Cal Peters, Painting, Mural, Micheals Hall (Courtesy: WPR)

Interesting to note that “feeling bad” is now a proper mandate for removing a historical painting — one not inherently racist or demeaning to Native Americans at all.

The works will be removed into the library and the dean’s office. Some are rightly accusing the university of censoring history in the name of political correctness.

But the chancellor did not agree, citing business as his primary motive for the action.

“So, we really want to make sure, really, what we decorate our hallways with and what we put in our hallways is consistent with our values to try and attract more Native Americans to the university.”

Meyer did not specify how catering to the feelings of a handful of offended students constituted an intelligent “business decision.”