GETTYSBURG, Pennsylvania — Two members of a college swim team have been suspended after one was accused of scratching a racial slur into the skin of a teammate, reports say.
The Gettysburgian reports the alleged incident occurred on Sept. 6 during a social gathering for the Gettysburg College men’s swim team. The victim says a teammate used a box cutter to scratch the racial slur into his chest.
Family members of the reported victim tell the Gettysburgian that the victim is one of the people suspended from team activities as the incident is investigated by the school. Police tell WGAL Channel 8 the school did not contact the department, saying the victim wants the college to handle the investigation.
“This is a serious report, which is being actively assessed through the student conduct process,” the school said in a statement to pennlive.com. “At this point, the students involved are not participating in swim team activities pending the outcome of the student conduct process. Given privacy laws and the ongoing nature of the student conduct process, we are unable to share further details.”
The victim’s family tells the Gettysburgian that he is the only person of color on the swim team.
“Our son did not choose to have a hateful racial slur scrawled across his chest, but he has chosen not to return the hate,” a statement from the family says. “He did not choose the color of his skin tone, but has chosen to embrace the strength and diversity it represents. Our son did not choose to be shunned and isolated at the behest of some who pay lip service to inclusion and diversity.”
Bob Iuliano, president of Gettysburg College, released a statement crediting upperclassmen on the team for reporting the incident, the Evening Sun reports.
“Let me underscore my profound distress about what happened, its impact on those who have long been underrepresented on this campus, and its implications for a community continuing its evolving efforts to create a truly inclusive environment,” Iuliano says in the statement. “No matter the relationship, and no matter the motivation, there is no place on this campus for words or actions that demean, degrade, or marginalize based on one’s identity and history.”
