At Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania, a troubling incident involving a racial slur has led to the suspension of at least two students from the school's swim team. Officials at the liberal arts college, which has an enrollment of 2,200 students, received a report of a racial slur being scratched onto a student's body using a plastic or ceramic tool. The incident occurred during an informal social gathering on campus, as reported by upper-class students from the swim team.

The victim's family, speaking to the college's student newspaper, The Gettysburgian, described the incident as a hate crime. The victim, who is the only person of color in the gathering, was allegedly targeted by a fellow student-athlete. According to the family, the perpetrator, whom the victim considered a friend, used a box cutter to etch a derogatory term across the victim's chest. The incident, which took place on September 6, has sparked outrage and prompted swift action from the college.

Gettysburg College President Robert Iuliano expressed profound distress over the incident, emphasizing the school's commitment to fostering an inclusive environment. The college has launched an investigation into the matter through its student conduct process. Both the victim and the alleged perpetrator have been barred from participating in swim team activities while the investigation is ongoing. The victim's family revealed that their son was interviewed by coaching staff shortly after the incident and was dismissed from the team.