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Gettysburg College has confirmed a report that a student scratched a racial slur into their peer's body.
According to The Hill, Gettysburg College President Bob Iuliano said the slur was etched into the student's body at an “informal social gathering at an on-campus residence."
The Gettysburgian, the school's newspaper, reported two students were removed from the school's swim team following the incident.
According to the victim's parents, the incident occurred at a September 6 swim-team gathering, where their son was the "only person of color," per the newspaper. A student reportedly used a box cutter to etch the N-word into their teammate's chest. The family said their son was scratched by a person he had "considered a friend."
Loved ones added that the victim was one of the two students dismissed from the swim team.
“In less than 48 hours after the incident, our son was interviewed by the members of the coaching staff and summarily dismissed (not suspended) from the swim team. The punitive action was taken prior to the commencement of the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities own investigation. This does not appear to have followed the policies and procedures stated in the Gettysburg College Student-Athlete Manual,” the family's statement reads, per the Gettysburgian.
On Monday (September 23), Jamie Yates, the college’s chief communications and marketing officer, told NPR that the school's investigation into the incident was coming to a close. Following the investigation, the school plans to work with the family on "how most constructively to move forward."
"Those conversations have already begun and will continue. Both parties understand that this process will take time and are committed to working together," Yates said.
According to NPR, Gettysburg College also said Monday that the student responsible for etching the racial slur was no longer enrolled at the school. Administrators declined to comment on whether the student was expelled or left on their own, citing privacy laws.
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