The Gettysburg swimming team issues a statement about an athlete using a racial slur against a teammate

The Gettysburg College swimming team has released a statement after a swimmer on the team reportedly scratched a racial slur on a teammate's body. The incident was first reported by The Gettysburgianon Sept. 18, with the university confirming that two students had been suspended and that there was an ongoing college investigation into the matter.

The family of the student who had the slur engraved spoke out in the newspaper, saying their son was one of the students who was “removed from the team (not suspended).” The family also said, “This reprehensible act was committed by someone, a fellow student and athlete.” [their son] considered him his friend.”

In the swim team's statement, posted Wednesday on the college's athletics website, the athletes “indicate that the last few weeks have been exceptionally difficult for many people within our campus community and beyond… as a swim team, both collectively and Even as individuals, these days are among the most difficult of our lives.”

The team stressed that the incident was “unrelated to the team” as it did not occur at a team-sanctioned event and did not constitute hazing or an action endorsed by the team.

“Racism has no home here – neither at Gettysburg College nor on our team. We collectively condemn the acts that took place. We know the character of this team. We believe in our team. Sitting silently while our reputation was unfairly tarnished was excruciating…This incident does not reflect our values ​​or who we are.”

In the statement, the team expressed appreciation for President Bob Iuliano and acknowledged that it was the team's upperclassmen who first reported the incident. In a schoolwide statement dated Sept. 23, Iuliano wrote: “The student conduct investigation has confirmed that the incident is not a byproduct of an unhealthy sports team culture or a reflection of the team itself; Rather, we see in the captains what it means to be a Gettysburgian through their communication to their coaches.”

The day before, Anne Erlich, vice president of College Life, sent an email to the school community announcing that the student responsible for insulting another student was no longer enrolled at Gettysburg.

A joint statement from the family of the student on whom the arch was engraved and the college, released shortly after Erlich's email, confirmed that the person who made the carving is no longer at Gettysburg. “The college had previously assured the family that as the investigation neared completion, we would engage with them to consider how we could most constructively proceed,” the joint statement said. “These discussions have already begun and will continue. Both parties recognize that this process will take time and are committed to working together.”

The family also reiterated, “In response to the Gettysburg Police Department's comments to the press, they understand that they retain the right to pursue local, state and federal charges.”

The statement does not mention whether the parties involved have been allowed to resume team activities.

Below is the swim team's full statement, as well as the full joint statement from the victim's family and the college, which originally appeared in The Gettysburgian.

Full statement from the Gettysburg Swim Team (September 25):

“Given the intense attention surrounding recent events on campus, the Gettysburg College swim team is compelled to address the incident head-on.

“We recognize that the last few weeks have been exceptionally difficult for many people within our campus community and beyond. Our thoughts are with everyone who is directly and indirectly affected by this. The pain and anguish caused by the heinous act and subsequent media coverage have affected people around the world. As a swim team, these days are some of the most difficult of our lives, both collectively and individually.

“The national spotlight has unfortunately led some to believe that our team or the culture within our team is complicit in the racist incident. This couldn't be further from the truth.

“Earlier this week, the college confirmed this fact: “The student conduct investigation confirmed that the incident was not a byproduct of an unhealthy sports team culture or a reflection of the team itself; Rather, we see in the captains what it means to be a Gettysburgian through their communication to their coaches.”

“Racism has no home here – neither at Gettysburg College nor on our team. We agree that we condemn the actions that took place.

“We know the character of this team. We believe in our team. It was excruciating to sit still while our reputation was unfairly tarnished. It hurt deeply to see something we love so much being falsely associated with something so despicable.

“To be clear and as President Iuliano has confirmed, this incident had nothing to do with the swimming team. It was not a team-sanctioned event. It wasn't bullying. It was not supported by our team. This incident does not reflect our values ​​or who we are.

“We are grateful to the Gettysburg Swim Team coaching staff and the President’s Office for their handling of this situation. In their statement, they acknowledged us and commended the upperclassmen on the swim team for reporting the incident and reiterated that the act does not reflect our team's values. Thank you very much.

“In a few weeks we will return to the swimming pool determined as always. We will represent this college with pride, both in and out of the water. We will emerge from this as a stronger, more unified team, and as many others have said, our campus has the potential to become a stronger institution as a result.”

-The Gettysburg College swim team

Joint statement from the victim's family and the college (September 22):

“The investigation is nearing completion and we can now report that the person who insulted another person is no longer enrolled at the university.

“On Friday, the family of the complainant in this investigation filed a statement with the Gettysburgian. In this statement, the family began to lay out some of the nuances and complexities of this case and recognized the importance of a comprehensive investigation. Gettysburg College appreciated the family's willingness to allow us to conduct the investigation.

“The college had previously assured the family that once the investigation was nearing completion, we would work with them to determine the most constructive way forward. These discussions have already begun and will continue. Both parties understand that this process will take time and are committed to working together.

“The College and the family recognize the severity and seriousness of this situation and hope that it can serve as a transformative moment for our community and beyond.” To reiterate the family’s statement in the Gettysburgian:

“‘Rather, our intent is that a heinous act can serve – in some way – as a transformative moment for Gettysburg College to live up to its ideals of diversity, inclusion and equity; to celebrate the College's motto: “Do Great Work.” We pray that together we can awaken a collective consciousness that promotes healing and helps bring about justice for our son and the rest of the Gettysburg College community.”

“The family would also like to reiterate, in response to the Gettysburg Police Department's comments to the press, that they understand that they retain the right to pursue local, state and federal criminal charges in this matter.”