2 people suspended from Gettysburg College swim team after slur was carved into student's body

GETTYSBURG, Pennsylvania — At least two students at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania have been suspended from the swim team after it was revealed that a racial slur had been carved on a student's body, officials said.

Authorities had received “an extremely disturbing report that a student had been carved with a plastic or ceramic tool with a racial slur,” the 2,200-student private liberal arts college in Gettysburg said in a statement last week.

“This is a serious report that is being actively evaluated as part of the student conduct process,” the college said. “At this time, the students involved are not participating in swim team activities.” The school declined to provide further details, citing that process and privacy laws.

It is believed that it happened during an “informal social gathering in a campus dormitory” and that the incident was first reported by seniors on the swim team, said Gettysburg College President Robert Iuliano.

Iuliano described being “deeply dismayed by what has happened” and the impact it has on those who have long been underrepresented on campus, as well as the consequences “for a community that continues its efforts to create a truly inclusive environment.”

“Regardless of the relationship and regardless of the motivation, there is no place on this campus for words or actions that demean, degrade or exclude anyone because of their identity and history,” he said in a statement, also warning against speculation “based on fragments of information that may or may not be accurate.”

City Police Chief Robert Glenny Jr. said he contacted the college after hearing news reports and was told the victim chose to handle the matter through the college's internal process, even though college officials encouraged the person to report the matter to police, WGAL-TV reported.