HAMDEN – One woman identified on social media as a Quinnipiac University student is facing significant backlash after a snapchat of herself in blackface surfaced, but now sources say she was an oblivious victim.

A photo of a white female with what appeared to be black makeup on her face and the caption "black lives matter" has been circulating for much of Tuesday. Many are calling for her expulsion. However, sources tell FOX 61 the girl in the photo was using a facial beauty mask, and a friend, also a Quinnipiac University student, took the photo but, without the knowledge of the girl in the beauty mask, allegedly wrote the caption with the racist undertones.

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Sources say the student who actually took the photo is being disciplined, not the student in the photo.

Many comments on Facebook indicate that they found the photo reprehensible, but want others to know that she is not representative of the Quinnipiac community.

It's unknown how the Snapchat photo went viral on social media in the first place.

On Tuesday, the university posted a statement on its Facebook page:

You may have seen a photo posted on social media this afternoon. We have released the following statement regarding this incident:

"The university takes this matter very seriously and acted swiftly to discipline those responsible for the offensive photo. This incident does not reflect the true nature of our university, where we have a long history of zero tolerance for any acts of racism, hatred or bigotry."