Editor’s Note: This story involves an ongoing investigation. The Gettysburgian’s most recent reporting can be found at this link.
By Vincent DiFonzo, Editor-in-Chief
President Bob Iuliano addressed an incident, first reported on yesterday by the Gettysburgian, in which a racial slur was scratched into the skin of a student at a social gathering. Two students have been suspended from the swim team amid the investigation into the incident.
In an email sent to the campus community, Iuliano thanked upperclassman students who reported the incident to the College and expressed his “profound distress about what happened, its impact on those who have long been underrepresented on this campus and its implications for a community continuing its evolving efforts to create a truly inclusive environment.”
Iuliano continued, “No matter the relationship, and no matter the motivation, there is no place on this campus for words or actions that demean, degrade or marginalize based on one’s identity and history.”
Iuliano asked the community for their understanding as the College is limited by privacy laws in what information can be publicly released.
“Please appreciate that the College cannot speak to an ongoing investigation where witnesses are being interviewed and key information is still being understood. Beyond that, we are constrained in discussing a student-related matter governed by federal privacy laws. I recognize that the lack of details regarding this incident might be frustrating and we ask for your forbearance,” wrote Iuliano. “In times like these, we may be tempted to speculate about what happened based on fragments of information that may or may not be accurate. Instead, I’d strongly urge us to let our well-established student conduct process play out. I have every confidence in its ability to conduct a thorough review and, together with College Life and Athletics, to respond appropriately to what the investigation reveals.”
Iuliano also called for the community to work towards fostering a more inclusive environment.
“Let’s also focus on our collective responsibility to foster a truly inclusive environment and to uphold our mission statement that underscores who we are: a dynamic educational environment starts with an unwavering commitment to the ‘worth and dignity of all people.’ We realize the fullest potential in ourselves and in each other only if we honor each other’s common humanity in all of our interactions,” wrote Iuliano. “As a community, we will learn from this and renew our commitment to support those who need it most.”
The full statement by Iuliano is published below:
Dear Campus Community,
By now, some of you have heard about a student conduct report that recently was filed with the College arising from an incident where a racial slur was scratched onto a student by another student at an informal social gathering at an on-campus residence. I should note that it was the upperclass students from the swim team who first reported the incident, and we thank them for bringing this to the College’s attention.
Let me underscore my profound distress about what happened, its impact on those who have long been underrepresented on this campus, and its implications for a community continuing its evolving efforts to create a truly inclusive environment.
No matter the relationship, and no matter the motivation, there is no place on this campus for words or actions that demean, degrade, or marginalize based on one’s identity and history.
Please appreciate that the College cannot speak to an ongoing investigation where witnesses are being interviewed and key information is still being understood. Beyond that, we are constrained in discussing a student-related matter governed by federal privacy laws. I recognize that the lack of details regarding this incident might be frustrating and we ask for your forbearance.
In times like these, we may be tempted to speculate about what happened based on fragments of information that may or may not be accurate. Instead, I’d strongly urge us to let our well-established student conduct process play out. I have every confidence in its ability to conduct a thorough review and, together with College Life and Athletics, to respond appropriately to what the investigation reveals.
Let’s also focus on our collective responsibility to foster a truly inclusive environment and to uphold our mission statement that underscores who we are: a dynamic educational environment starts with an unwavering commitment to the “worth and dignity of all people.” We realize the fullest potential in ourselves and in each other only if we honor each other’s common humanity in all of our interactions.
As a community, we will learn from this and renew our commitment to support those who need it most.
As a reminder, a listing of campus resources is below:
- If you experience or witness an act of bias, please report it as soon as you are able.
- All students – Counseling and Wellness Services at counseling@gettysburg.edu or 717-337-6960
- All employees and students – Diversity and Inclusion, Eloísa Gordon-Mora at egordon@gettysburg.edu or 717-337-6376
- All students – College Life, Cristina Garcia at cgarcia@gettysburg.edu or 717-337-6921
- All employees –Human Resources, Employment Assistant Program at hr@gettysburg.edu or 717-337-6202
- All faculty – Office of the Provost, Michelle Schmidt at mschmidt@gettysburg.edu or 717-337-6840
Sincerely,
Bob Iuliano
President
This is a developing story and may be updated as more information becomes publicly available
