Gettysburg College in southern Pennsylvania is conducting an investigation after a student allegedly carved a racial slur into another student's chest during a gathering earlier this month. The incident, which occurred on September 6 at an informal get-together of the men’s swim team in an on-campus residence, has kept the small liberal arts college in the spotlight.
According to a statement from the victim’s family published in The Gettysburgian, the campus newspaper, the accused student used a box cutter to etch the N-word into a teammate’s chest. The victim's family emphasized that their son was the only person of color at the gathering and described the attacker as someone their son considered a friend.
Upperclassmen on the swim team who became aware of the incident reported it, a move that was commended by Gettysburg College President Bob Iuliano in a message to the campus community. He praised their prompt response in handling the situation.
The student accused of the act has since left the college, although it remains unclear whether they were expelled or left voluntarily. The college has not released further details, citing student privacy laws. According to the college's data, the school has approximately 2,200 students, 62% of whom are white, with 21% identifying as non-international students of color.
Jamie Yates, the college’s chief communications and marketing officer, stated that the investigation is nearing completion, and discussions with the victim's family about the path forward are already underway. "Both parties understand that this process will take time and are committed to working together," Yates told NPR.
In addition to working with the college, the victim's family has filed complaints of racial discrimination, harassment, and lack of due process with the NAACP Harrisburg chapter, the NAACP Pennsylvania Conference, and the Pennsylvania Commission on Human Relations.