The Gettysburg College swim team has addressed a disturbing incident involving one of their teammates,
where a racial slur was reportedly carved onto another swimmer’s body.
The incident, which came to light on September 18 through
*The Gettysburgian*, has since resulted in the suspension of two students
and an ongoing investigation by the college.
The family of the victim spoke out, revealing that their son was one of the students dismissed from the team,
rather than suspended.
They expressed deep pain, stating, “This reprehensible act was committed by a fellow student-athlete,
someone [their son] considered his friend.”
Despite the traumatic event, the family is working with the college to seek justice and healing.
In a statement published on the Gettysburg College athletics website on September 25,
the swim team expressed their collective grief and frustration.
They clarified that the incident was neither tied to any team activity nor a form of hazing, but condemned the act, stating, “Racism has no home here—neither at Gettysburg College nor on our team.”
The team’s leadership reiterated their commitment to the college’s values
and thanked upperclassmen for promptly reporting the incident to their coaches.
Gettysburg College President Bob Iuliano praised the captains for their swift response,
noting that the investigation affirmed that the incident was not indicative of a toxic team culture. In a message to the campus community, Iuliano emphasized that the team had acted responsibly in handling the situation.
Vice President of College Life, Anne Ehrlich, confirmed that the student responsible for the act is no longer enrolled at the institution.
A joint statement between the victim’s family and the college highlighted the ongoing efforts to address the complexities of the case.
The family reiterated their hope that this incident could serve as a catalyst for positive change at Gettysburg College, promoting its ideals of diversity and inclusion.
They also acknowledged their right to pursue legal action, if necessary.
The Gettysburg College swim team plans to return to the pool in the coming weeks, more united than before.
They are determined to represent the college with pride,
as they move forward from this dark chapter with resilience
and a commitment to upholding the institution’s values.
**Keywords:** Gettysburg College swim team,
Gettysburg College racial incident, Gettysburg swim team statement,
Gettysburg College investigation, college athlete racism.
