Officials at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania are investigating reports of a racial slur being scratched onto a student’s chest with a box cutter during a men’s swim team gathering on campus. The victim’s family called it a hate crime, stating their son was the only person of color at the event. Two students were initially suspended from the swim team in connection to the attack. However, a joint statement later revealed that the student responsible for the slur was no longer enrolled at the college. The victim’s family confirmed that their son was dismissed from the swim team before the school’s investigation was completed, leading them to file complaints with various organizations for racial discrimination and lack of due process. The family highlighted their son’s choice not to return hate despite the incident.
Gettysburg College President also addressed the incident, expressing distress over the impact on underrepresented individuals and the implications for inclusivity on campus. The college has over 2,200 undergraduate students, with 62% being white and 21% students of color. The incident has sparked conversations about racism and discrimination within the community. The case was reported to Gettysburg Police Chief but was handled internally by the college’s investigatory process. The college has urged the community to focus on inclusivity and creating a truly inclusive environment despite the incident.
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