A student accused of scratching a racial slur into another student’s chest is no longer enrolled at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania, the college has said.
On Sunday afternoon, Anne Ehrlich, vice president for college life, provided the update in a campuswide email to students at the private liberal arts school in Gettysburg, according to The Gettysburgian student newspaper.
In the email, Ehrlich said the investigation into the incident “is nearing its conclusion, and we can report now that the individual who scratched the slur onto another person is no longer enrolled at the College.”
Ehrlich added that “this was a serious situation that required a thorough and thoughtful investigation, and we thank the community for their patience as we worked through our process. This will be our final communication concerning the student conduct process related to this matter.”
The school has been contacted for further comment via email.
A file photo shows a sign at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania. A student accused of carving a racial slur into another student’s chest is no longer enrolled at the college, officials said.
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The college said on Wednesday that the students involved were not participating in swim team activities, pending the outcome of the student conduct process.
Gettysburg College President Robert Iuliano said on Thursday that the incident had occurred during an “informal social gathering at an on-campus residence” and was first reported by upper-class students from the swim team.
The victim’s family released a statement on Friday, saying their son was the victim of a hate crime. They said the incident had occurred at a social gathering on September 6, and that someone their son “considered his friend” had used a box cutter to cut the slur across their son’s chest.
“It is important to note that he was the only person of color at this gathering,” they said in a statement to the student newspaper on Friday. “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 that statement, they said they support “a fair and thorough” investigation, but said they have filed complaints citing racial discrimination, harassment and lack of due process with the Harrisburg chapter of the NAACP and the NAACP Pennsylvania Conference, as well as the Pennsylvania Commission on Human Relations. The family said they were “well aware that [they] retain the right to pursue local, state and federal criminal charges in this matter.”
The college and victim’s family released a joint statement on Sunday, which emphasized the college’s commitment to work with the family on how “most constructively to move forward.”
“Those conversations have already begun and will continue,” the joint statement said. “Both parties understand that this process will take time and are committed to working together. The College and the family both recognize the gravity and seriousness of this situation and hope it can serve as a transformative moment for our community and beyond.”
Are you a student or staff at Gettysburg College with information or thoughts about this incident? Get in touch at k.rahman@newsweek.com
