Family Of Gettysburg Swimmer Who Had A Racial Slur Carved On Their Body Speaks Out

On Wednesday, The Gettysburgian, the Gettysburg student newspaper, first reported that at least two students had been suspended from the college’s swim team after a racial slur was scratched onto the body of a student.

Two days later, the family of the student who had the racial slur cut onto their body at a swim team gathering contacted the paper with their statement on the incident, which is currently under investigation by the college, per a statement by Chief Communications and Marketing Officer Jamie Yates.

The family’s statement says their son was the victim of a hate crime, which took place on Friday, Sept. 6 at a men’s team gathering where their son was the only person of color. Their statement goes on to share that “this reprehensible act was committed by a fellow student-athlete, someone [their son] considered his friend, someone whom he trusted. This student used a box cutter to etch the N-word across his chest.”

Gettysburg’s statement, released by Yates, said “Students involved are not participating in swim team activities pending the outcome of the student conduct process,” but did not release the names of any students involved, citing privacy laws and the “ongoing nature of the student conduct process.”

The school says that an upperclassmen member of the team reported the incident to authorities.

The victim’s family said in their statement the victim is one of the students dismissed from team activities.

“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,” their statement continued.

In a school-wide email, Gettysburg president Bob Iuliano said it was upperclassmen from the team who first reported the incident. Iuliano expressed his “profound” distress over the incident, adding “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.”

The family’s full statement, first published in The Gettysburgian, can be found below. To protect the victim’s identity, the paper agreed to keep their identities anonymous.

“Two weeks ago on the evening of Friday, Sept. 6, our son became the victim of a hate crime. The incident took place at a gathering of swim team members. It is important to note that he was the only person of color at this gathering. 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.

“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.

“As we wait to discuss the decisions made by college staff, the harm continues without much relief. Media outlets (social, online, and broadcast) continue to perpetuate misinformation stemming from an act of racial animus. In the same vein, the isolation that pairs with being isolated from many in the Gettysburg College community that he had come to trust deepens the harm.

“We want to be clear that we understand that an investigation should not be rushed. We support a fair and thorough investigation. To this end, we appreciate the standardized procedures and protocols that are in place. We know that they are meant to ensure that the rights and responsibilities of all parties involved are maintained and protected.

“At the same time, we have been proactive in seeking redress through other parties. Complaints citing racial discrimination, harassment and lack of due process have been filed with the NAACP Harrisburg chapter and the NAACP Pennsylvania conference. We have also filed a similar complaint with the Pennsylvania Commission on Human Relations. We are well aware that we retain the right to pursue local, state and federal criminal charges in this matter.

“We have come forward now with this statement in the expectation that it will add clarity, not stir controversy as we struggle to comprehend the nightmare that haunts our son and our family. We remain hopeful that Gettysburg College officials will maintain transparency and execute a just application of its rules.

“Our son had other choices where he could mature intellectually, socially and spiritually, and achieve his athletic goals. He chose Gettysburg College and its swim program because he felt at home on this campus. Indeed, we appreciated how we were welcomed by other swim team parents, swimmers and coaching staff. It appeared to be the right choice on several levels. For the sake of our son’s well-being, we are attempting to address the recent challenges by mirroring our son’s spirit of humility and courage.

“Our son did not choose to have a hateful racial slur scrawled across his chest, but he has chosen not to return the hate. 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.

“We would be remiss not to point out that there are — thankfully — students who have reached out and expressed their concern for our son’s well-being. These individuals have chosen to resist pressure from others and not associate with him. In our family’s eyes, they stopped to help our son in his time of need. They have displayed courage and grace at such a young age, and their actions should be celebrated, not discouraged.

“Our family apologizes in advance if this statement offends anyone. We seek forgiveness if what we believe to be true is perceived as bearing false witness. This is not our intent. Rather, our intent is that — in some small way — a heinous act can serve as a transformative moment for Gettysburg College to live up to its ideals of diversity, inclusion and justice; to celebrate the College’s maxim to: ‘Do Great Work.’  We pray that together we can arouse a collective conscience promoting healing and help bring about justice for our son and the rest of the Gettysburg College community.”

This is a developing story and bay be updated with further information as it becomes available. 

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anon
6 days ago

ABC27 Harrisburg News is now reporting that this was not a hate crime. They had a television broadcast news video last night.

Unmute the video of their broadcast from last night and watch.

https://www.abc27.com/gettysburg/former-prosecutor-unclear-why-gettysburg-college-student-would-go-to-media-but-not-police-if-hate-crime-really-did-occur/

r s
8 days ago

I have knowledge of the incident. The student asked to have that word carved onto his chest at a freshman gathering. When the whole team gathered the next night he lifted up his shirt to show everyone and was proud of it. (As if that is funny) 

Think about this logically, what condition would someone need to be in for that to happen, unless they did it willingly.

It is horrible that the other swimmers are getting disparaged for the stupid actions of that student.

I float
Reply to  r s
8 days ago

Unless you were actually there (either the carver or the carvee, or another person in attendance), it’s still just hearsay.

What I can’t understand is: Even if the guy asked to be carved, whoever actually carved it, had it occurred to him that just because you are given permission to do a wrong thing, to do something perhaps illegal, it does not mean he is now free to do it without any consequences…. And has it occurred to the carver that maybe it would be wrong and potentially illegal to actually do that, even if he has the permission to do so?

SwammerCoachMom
9 days ago

A few days ago the athletic website didn’t have last year’s roster up. Now they don’t have a roster up since 20-21 season. Seems a little concerning on what’s going on with handling the situation. I know things take time but if I were them, I’d be giving some answers or statements instead of slowly hiding things, like a team roster. Doesn’t feel right. It’s not hard to find other sources to pull the rosters. Not sure why this was done and the handling of this situation by the university appears concerning as this has now made national news. I really hope that in the end, this situation is handled appropriately. Before I get ahead of myself, I will show… Read more »

TexasSwimFan1
Reply to  SwammerCoachMom
8 days ago

I think the rosters were pulled down because the members on the team, who had nothing to do with the incident other than having reported it to the coach, were receiving threats.

RDParent
9 days ago

This sounds like ASSAULT to me! Why is this being downplayed?

Admin
Reply to  RDParent
9 days ago

Folks around the program are saying that the way this has played out will make more sense when full details of the investigation are released.

Billy Bullet
10 days ago

He was dismissed because he did it and thought it was funny and probably never mentioned the other kid when he talked to the coach and was subsequently kicked off the team. when he told his parents about what happened…they went scorch earth on Gettysburg College for the pay day. get ready to pay the other kid that was collateral damage. That parent statement was to get out in front of the story in public opinion, completely unacceptable until the investigation was over. Both boys should probably seek mental help, considering how stupid of an idea this was. Let the rest of the team get back to swimming and put this crap behind them.

THEO
11 days ago

Speechless. these are some disturbed kids.

Marsha
Reply to  THEO
10 days ago

I can’t figure how the person being attacked allowed it. Did the team hold him down? Were they on anything? No one there stopped it? The whole thing is just horrific.

swimws
Reply to  Marsha
10 days ago

He wasn’t attacked.

r s
Reply to  swimws
8 days ago

He asked for it and then showed it off to the rest of team.

Coachmommy
11 days ago

There was one comment I read that indicated a swimmer had the word on his chest and SHOWED it to the “person of color” (purposefully using the descriptive language chosen by the parents). The idea of a 6 letter word being successfully carved into the flesh of a human is horrifying. It also would seem to be excruciatingly painful to the extent it’s hard to ascertain how it could be successfully completed. A swimmer with dry skin using a sharp edge to scratch the slur onto his chest dark enough to be legible but not deep enough to draw blood still isn’t understandable but seems somehow more plausible? And could explain why there weren’t immediate arrests? There’s no set of… Read more »

r s
Reply to  Coachmommy
8 days ago

He asked for it to be done to him and then proudly showed it off. (inside info)

Meathead
11 days ago

how is this not a national story? How was the “victim” kicked off the team (I’m assuming he did something wrong since he was kicked of the team and nobody has been arrested and there is no major talk of a massive lawsuit)

I really hope the fully story comes out

About Sophie Kaufman

Sophie Kaufman

Sophie grew up in Boston, Massachusetts, which means yes, she does root for the Bruins, but try not to hold that against her. At 9, she joined her local club team because her best friend convinced her it would be fun. Shoulder surgery ended her competitive swimming days long ago, …

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