Pennsylvania student who allegedly racially abused teammate is no longer enrolled: Gettysburg College

GETTYSBURG, Pennsylvania – A Gettysburg College swimmer is no longer enrolled at the school after allegedly carving a racial slur into his teammate's chest during an informal social gathering at a campus dormitory, school officials said.

The student, whose name was not released by the college or authorities, allegedly used a box cutter to carve the N-word into the face of another Gettysburg College swimmer, according to a statement from the victim's family published in the school's newspaper. The family said they decided to come forward to “provide clarity, not stir up controversy, as we struggle to make sense of the nightmare that is haunting our son and our family.”

“For the sake of our son's well-being, we seek to address recent challenges by reflecting our son's spirit of humility and courage,” the family said in the statement. “Our son did not choose to have a hateful racial slur scrawled across his chest, but he did choose not to return the hate. He did not choose the color of his skin, but he did choose to embrace the strength and diversity it represents. Our son did not choose to be shunned and isolated at the behest of some who only pay lip service to inclusion and diversity.”

The two students allegedly involved were initially suspended from swim team activities while the college investigated the incident, according to Jamie Yates, chief communications and marketing officer at Gettysburg College.

“The student who scratched is no longer enrolled at the college,” Yates said in a statement to ABC News. “The college is working with the other student and his family on how to most constructively move forward.”

Gettysburg Police Chief Robert Glenny Jr. told ABC News that police had not received a complaint about the incident.

Glenny Jr. said the department contacted the college's campus security after learning of the incident, but was told that although the victim was “encouraged” by the college to contact police, “she chose not to do so and left the matter to the college's disciplinary process.”

The video in the player above is from an earlier report.

The school newspaper, The Gettysburgian, released a statement Friday from the family of the student who was allegedly slashed in the chest. It said the incident occurred two weeks ago at a men's swim team social gathering where the victim was the only person of color in attendance. According to the family, the slashing was carried out by someone the victim “trusted” and considered a friend.

According to the newspaper, it published a statement from the victim's family anonymously to protect the victim's identity.

“Two weeks ago, on the evening of Friday, September 6, our son was the victim of a hate crime,” the family wrote in the statement published in the Gettysburgian.

In a joint statement from Gettysburg College and the plaintiff's family, they said they had “already made a commitment to the family that as the investigation nears completion, we will work with them to find the most constructive way forward.”

“These discussions have already begun and will continue. Both parties recognize that this process will take time and are committed to working together,” Gettysburg College said in a statement.

The Harrisburg-area NAACP chapter confirmed to ABC News that it was aware of the incident and that the Pennsylvania NAACP state conference had been informed.

While the Harrisburg-area NAACP chapter said it would not comment while the family and school are still investigating, President Franklin E. Allen said in a statement, “It's only the beginning of the school year and no one should be afraid to go to college.”

In the joint statement from Gettysburg College, the family said they wanted to reiterate that they are aware they still have the right to pursue charges at the local, state and federal levels.

“The college and family recognize the gravity and seriousness of this situation and hope that it can become a transformative moment for our community and beyond,” the statement continued.

ABC News' Sabina Ghebremedhin contributed to this report.