By mistake… of course.

APPLETON – Lawrence University administration apologized Saturday for including in its most recent annual report a photo of President Mark Burstein and his cabinet in which racist graffiti is clearly visible.

The photo was taken over the summer inside the cupola of Main Hall, which is currently undergoing renovations. It’s long been a place where students sneak in and write their names and other slogans on the wall, says Associate Vice President for Communications Craig Gagnon.

Neither the six people in the photo — all white — nor the photographer noticed the n-word scrawled on one wall, nor did any of the dozen or more people who proofread the annual report, Gagnon says.