A Gettysburg College student allegedly had a racial slur carved into their chest during a men's swim meet gathering earlier this month.
The attacker reportedly used a box cutter to carve the N-word into the victim's chest on Sept. 6. Upperclassmen later reported the incident to the college.
The alleged attacker and victim have not been identified. However, the victim's family told the Gettysburgian, a student-run news publication, that they considered the act a hate crime. They added that their son was the sole 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," the family wrote.
A group of students were suspended from swim team activities during the college's investigation of the incident, including the victim.
Vice President for College Life Anne Ehrlich addressed the campus in an email on Sunday, confirming that the individual responsible for the attack is no longer enrolled at Gettysburg College. She also noted that the investigation is nearing its conclusion.
"We previously made a commitment to the family that once the investigation was nearing its completion, we would work with them about how most constructively to move forward. Those conversations have already begun," Ehrlich said.
The victim's family has filed complaints with the NAACP Pennsylvania Conference, the NAACP Harrisburg chapter, and the Pennsylvania Commission on Human Relations, but has not pressed charges.
In a joint statement, the college and the victim's family said they hope the incident can serve as a "transformative moment" for the school community.
"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," they wrote.
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