A student-athlete at Gettysburg College allegedly carved a racial slur into the chest of a swimming teammate with a box cutter. The disturbing incident sparked an investigation at the small liberal arts college in Pennsylvania, according to school officials and the family of one swimmer.

The student who wrote the insult on his classmate’s body is reportedly no longer at the school, and the student on whom the word was carved was initially banned from swimming at the small school after revelations about the incident came to light, which were roundly condemned by the college president.

“Regardless of the relationship and regardless of the motivation, there is no place on this campus for words or actions that demean, degrade or exclude a person because of their identity and history,” Gettysburg President Bob Iuliano wrote Thursday.

Iuliano noted that the incident occurred during an informal social gathering on campus.

The family of the student who had the swear words carved into his chest told the school newspaper Gettysburgian that their son was the “victim of a hate crime” and that a so-called friend had written the N-word on their child’s chest with a box cutter on September 6.

Less than two days later, the alleged victim was questioned by swim coaches and “summarily dismissed (not suspended) from the swim team,” the family claimed Friday. It was not immediately clear if his status had changed Sunday evening.

The family also claimed that the “reprehensible act” was committed by someone he “considered a friend, someone he trusted,” pointing out that he was the only person of color at the gathering.

The student who allegedly wrote the slur is no longer enrolled at the college, the school and the other student’s family told the Gettysburgian in a joint statement Sunday. It was unclear whether the student left the college of his own accord or was expelled.

“The college and family recognize the severity and seriousness of this situation and hope it can become a turning point for our community and beyond,” the statement said, adding that the college and family are looking for the best way to move forward.

The internal investigation is nearing completion, the statement continued.

In Thursday’s message to the school community, Iuliano said the school became aware of the situation after senior students reported it to school administration.

“I want to express my deep dismay at what has happened, its impact on those who have long been underrepresented on this campus, and its consequences for a community that continues its efforts to create a truly inclusive environment,” he wrote.