Duke removes blackface photo of lacrosse player

DURHAM, N.C. The Duke athletic department has removed a photo from its website showing a women's lacrosse player dressed in blackface at a team Halloween party.

The team held the party and costume contest at head coach Kerstin Kimel's house. The junior class dressed as characters from "The Little Rascals" movie. One player painted her face black as part of her Buckwheat costume.

A picture of the woman and the team's six other juniors was posted last week. The picture was changed Monday.

Kimel says some of the costume choices were insensitive and inappropriate and the team members should have realized how the pictures would be viewed. The team and coaches apologized for the photo.

Duke assistant sports information director Leslie Gaber said neither Kimel nor the player had any comments.