Jan 18, 2014 04:20 PM EST By Jaleesa Baulkman, UniversityHerald Reporter

Howard University students were puzzled when they saw that a grocery store ad targeting the predominantly black campus featured a white model, USA Today reported.

In an attempt to "welcome back" Howard University students returning from their winter break, A Giant Food Store in Washington, D.C. released a full-page ad in early January telling students that they were ready for their business. The ad featuring a white woman did little to attract students from the historically black college.

Black students make up 87 percent of Howard University's undergraduate and graduate student population, according to the university. White students only make up less than 3 percent.

Since the ad surfaced last week, students at the college have been calling the company out on social media for their marketing faux pas, Afro.com reported.

Howard grad student Thomas Houston told asked the store's circular team to quickly fix the ad via Twitter, Afro.com reported.

"HU is a historically Black college. Applauding Giant for reaching out to my alma mater, but this was a marketing fail on their team," he told Afro.com.

Houston said the ad should have been changed to reflect local demographics.

Giant released a statement apologizing for the advertisement.

"Unfortunately, an incorrect stock photo was used in the ad, and we apologize for this oversight. We wish all Howard University students a successful semester," they said in a statement to USA Today.

Some students did not find the ad significant and did not get the controversy.

"I don't think it was that big of a deal," said Anthony Miller, president of the Howard University Student Association and a first-year graduate student in sociology. "I think in the future, we'll find a different student in the ad."

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