School administrators at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania are investigating an incident where a student reportedly scratched a racial slur onto another student’s chest during an on-campus informal gathering earlier this month. Both students involved were members of the college’s swim team.
In a joint statement released on Sunday, the college and the family of the targeted student confirmed that the investigation was nearing completion.
The family of the victim explained that their son, the only person of color at the gathering, had been targeted by a trusted teammate. They claim the slur was etched onto his chest using a box cutter during the swim team’s informal meeting on September 6.
Administrators at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania are investigating a reported hate crime involving two members of the college’s swim team.
After the incident, the victim was interviewed by coaching staff and subsequently dismissed from the team. It is unknown whether this decision has since been reconsidered.
In a joint statement released on Sunday, the college and the family of the targeted student confirmed that the investigation was nearing completion.
The student responsible for the act is no longer enrolled at the college, though it remains unclear whether they were expelled or voluntarily withdrew. The names of the students involved have not been disclosed.
The college and the family expressed a desire to turn the incident into a moment of transformation for the campus community. “The college and the family both recognize the gravity and seriousness of this situation and hope it can serve as a transformative moment for our community and beyond,” their joint statement read.
While supporting the college’s investigation, the family has also filed complaints with the NAACP’s Harrisburg chapter, the NAACP Pennsylvania Conference, and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, citing racial discrimination, harassment, and lack of due process.
Gettysburg Police Chief Robert W. Glenny Jr. stated on Sunday that he had reached out to the college’s campus safety department after hearing about the incident in the media.
However, the victim has chosen not to report the matter to the police, leaving the investigation to the school. The identities of the students involved have not been revealed to law enforcement.
In an email to the student body, Gettysburg College President Robert Iuliano expressed his “profound distress” over the incident and emphasized the institution’s commitment to creating an inclusive environment.
He condemned any actions or words that demean or marginalize individuals based on their identity. The incident was initially reported by upper-class members of the swim team.
Of the college’s 2,207 students, 62 percent are white, and 21 percent are nonwhite US residents, while international students make up 14 percent of the student body.
In a joint statement released on Sunday, the college and the family of the targeted student confirmed that the investigation was nearing completion.
The family of the victim explained that their son, the only person of color at the gathering, had been targeted by a trusted teammate. They claim the slur was etched onto his chest using a box cutter during the swim team’s informal meeting on September 6.
Administrators at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania are investigating a reported hate crime involving two members of the college’s swim team.
After the incident, the victim was interviewed by coaching staff and subsequently dismissed from the team. It is unknown whether this decision has since been reconsidered.
In a joint statement released on Sunday, the college and the family of the targeted student confirmed that the investigation was nearing completion.
The student responsible for the act is no longer enrolled at the college, though it remains unclear whether they were expelled or voluntarily withdrew. The names of the students involved have not been disclosed.
The college and the family expressed a desire to turn the incident into a moment of transformation for the campus community. “The college and the family both recognize the gravity and seriousness of this situation and hope it can serve as a transformative moment for our community and beyond,” their joint statement read.
While supporting the college’s investigation, the family has also filed complaints with the NAACP’s Harrisburg chapter, the NAACP Pennsylvania Conference, and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, citing racial discrimination, harassment, and lack of due process.
Gettysburg Police Chief Robert W. Glenny Jr. stated on Sunday that he had reached out to the college’s campus safety department after hearing about the incident in the media.
However, the victim has chosen not to report the matter to the police, leaving the investigation to the school. The identities of the students involved have not been revealed to law enforcement.
In an email to the student body, Gettysburg College President Robert Iuliano expressed his “profound distress” over the incident and emphasized the institution’s commitment to creating an inclusive environment.
He condemned any actions or words that demean or marginalize individuals based on their identity. The incident was initially reported by upper-class members of the swim team.
Of the college’s 2,207 students, 62 percent are white, and 21 percent are nonwhite US residents, while international students make up 14 percent of the student body.
