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Family of Gettysburg swimmer who had racial slur written on their body speaks out

Family of Gettysburg swimmer who had racial slur written on their body speaks out

Vaseline 1 month ago

On Wednesday, The GettysburgianGettysburg’s student newspaper was first to report that at least two students had been suspended from the university’s swim team after a racial slur was found scrawled on a student’s body.

Two days later, the family of the student who received a racial slur on his body during a swim team meeting contacted the newspaper to provide a statement about the incident. The incident is currently under investigation by the university, according to a statement from Jamie Yates, chief communications and marketing officer.

The family’s statement says their son was the victim of a hate crime that occurred on Friday, September 6, during a men’s team meet where their son was the only person of color. Their statement goes on to share, “This reprehensible act was committed by a fellow student-athlete, someone (their son) considered a friend, someone he trusted. This student used a box cutter to carve the N-word across his chest.”

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

The school reports that a senior student reported the incident to authorities.

The victim’s family stated in their statement that the victim was one of the students who was expelled from team activities.

“He did not choose the color of his skin, but chose 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 an email to the entire school, Gettysburg President Bob Iuliano said it was the team’s senior class that first reported the incident. Iuliano expressed “deep” sadness over the incident, adding, “Regardless of the relationship and regardless of the motivation, there is no place on this campus for words or actions that denigrate, degrade or marginalize anyone based on their identity and history.”

The family’s full statement, first published in The Gettysburgiancan be found below. To protect the identity of the victim, the newspaper agreed to keep their identity anonymous.

“Two weeks ago, on the evening of Friday, September 6th, our son was the victim of a hate crime. The incident occurred during a swim team gathering. It is important to note that he was the only person of color at the gathering. The despicable act was committed by a fellow student-athlete, someone he considered a friend, someone he trusted. This student used a box cutter to carve the N-word across his chest.

“Within less than 48 hours of the incident, our son was interviewed by members of the coaching staff and summarily dismissed (not suspended) from the swim team. The disciplinary action was taken prior to the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities’ own investigation. This does not appear to have been followed in accordance with the policies and procedures set forth in the Gettysburg College Student-Athlete Manual.

“As we wait to discuss the decisions of college staff, the damage continues without much relief. Media (social, online, and broadcast) continues to spread misinformation that stems from an act of racial hostility. In the same vein, the isolation that comes with being isolated from many in the Gettysburg College community he had come to trust deepens the damage.

“We want to make it clear that we understand that an investigation should not be rushed. We support a fair and thorough investigation. That is why we appreciate the standardized procedures and protocols that are in place. We know that they are intended to ensure that the rights and responsibilities of all parties involved are upheld and protected.

“At the same time, we have been proactive in seeking redress through other parties. Complaints of 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 fully aware that we reserve the right to pursue local, state, and federal criminal charges in this matter.

“We have come forward with this statement now with the expectation that it will provide clarity, not controversy, as we struggle to understand the nightmare that has haunted our son and our family. We remain hopeful that Gettysburg College officials will maintain transparency and apply the rules fairly.

“Our son had other choices where he could grow intellectually, socially, and spiritually and achieve his athletic goals. He chose Gettysburg College and the swimming program because he felt at home on this campus. We appreciated how we were welcomed by other swim team parents, swimmers, and coaching staff. It seemed like the right choice on many levels. To ensure our son’s well-being, we are trying to address the recent challenges by reflecting 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 chose not to return the hate. He did not choose the color of his skin, but he chose 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 if we did not point out that there are — thankfully — students who have expressed concern for our son’s well-being. These individuals chose to resist the pressure of others and not interact with him. In the eyes of our family, they stopped short of helping our son in his time of need. They have shown 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 ask for forgiveness if what we believe to be true is perceived as bearing false witness. That is not our intent. Instead, it is our intention that — in some small way — a horrific act can serve as a transformative moment for Gettysburg College to live up to its ideals of diversity, inclusion, and equity; to celebrate the college’s ethos of ‘Do Great Work.’ We pray that together we can awaken a collective conscience that promotes healing and can help bring justice to our son and the rest of the Gettysburg College community.”

This is a developing story and we will update the information as it becomes available.