A college student allegedly used a box cutter to carve a racial slur onto another student’s chest at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania, officials said Thursday.
The alleged attack happened at a men’s swim team gathering Sept. 6 at an on-campus residence, according to a statement from the victim’s family that was published by the college’s student newspaper, The Gettysburgian.
“The reprehensible act was committed by a fellow student-athlete, someone he considered his friend, someone whom he trusted. This student used a box cutter to etch the N-word across his chest,” the victim’s family wrote in their statement.
The victim’s family, who have called the attack a “hate crime,” added that their son was the only person of color at the gathering.
Gettysburg College said in a statement Thursday that the students involved in the incident have been suspended from participating in swim team activities, “pending the outcome of the student conduct process.”
The victim’s family confirmed in their statement that the victim is one of the two students dismissed from team activities. The statement added that the victim had been first interviewed about the attack less than 48 hours after it occurred.
College President Bob Iuliano said in a statement that upperclassmen students from the swim team were the first to report the incident.
The victim’s family said it asked the Gettysburgian to keep their identity anonymous to ensure the protection of the victim’s identity.
“Our son did not choose to have a hateful racial slur scrawled across his chest, but he has chosen not to return the hate,” their statement said.
“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,” it continued.
One student told NBC News affiliate WGAL that he was “disgusted” by the news of the attack.
“It’s just kind of sad that stuff still happens today. Even though we talk all the time about inclusion and not doing that type of stuff anymore, it’s 2024. You can’t be doing that stuff,” the student said.
Iuliano said in the statement Thursday that he wishes to share his “profound distress” about the incident.
“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,” Iuliano said.
Gettysburg Police said in a statement to WGAL on Friday morning that the incident had not been reported to the station.
“The student victim chose not to handle this through police, but rather through the college’s internal investigatory process,” Police Chief Robert Glenny Jr. said in the statement.
The chief added that while Gettysburg College told him that it’s encouraging the student to take the matter to police, it is ultimately the victim’s decision.
The college told NBC News that it cannot reveal any further details on the attack due to privacy laws and their student conduct process.
“In times like these, we may be tempted to speculate about what happened based on fragments of information that may or may not be accurate. Instead, I’d strongly urge us to let our well-established student conduct process play out,” Iuliano said.
Iuliano said that he has “every confidence” in the college’s ability to conduct a “thorough review.”
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
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