Morristown Student Loses College Football Slot Over Racist Video

MORRISTOWN, NJ - A recent Morristown-Beard graduate is learning that words matter after a video of him using a racial slur has cost him a roster spot on the Cornell University football team.

Nate Panza is seen on a video filmed by Adam Giaquinto, who was a Morristown-Beard classmate of Panza's, using the N-word in a snapchat video recorded early Sunday morning.

The video, which contains foul language and racial slurs, can be seen here but viewer discretion is advised.

“Cornell football was made aware of the video early Sunday afternoon,” Andy Noel, director of Athletics and Physical Education at Cornell University, said in a statement to The Post. “After viewing it, head football coach, David Archer, made the decision to rescind the individual’s offer to join the team in the fall. There is no room for this behavior in Cornell Athletics.”

Morristown-Beard Headmaster Peter Caldwell released a statement distancing himself from the students' behavior noting that the "unacceptable behavior of a few individuals do not represent the Morristown-Beard community."

Noting that the video is offensive and hurtful, Caldwell said their school policies do not tolerate racism or discrimination of any kind.

For his part, Panza told the Cornell Daily Sun he took full responsibility for his actions, and he is heartbroken he hurt people.

“I do not believe that my language that night aligns with who I have tried to be as a person, the values I live by or the manner in which I have conducted myself as an athlete,” he told the paper. “My immediate reaction to the video was to reach out to my entire high school community to offer my sincerest apologies.”

Panza also said he would educate himself better, as the label "racist" was not something he could live with.

Thanks for reading! Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Have a news tip you'd like to share? Or maybe you have a press release you would like to submit or a correction you'd like to request? Send an email to russ.crespolini@patch.com

Subscribe to your local Patch newsletter. You can also have them delivered to your phone screen by downloading, or by visiting the Google Play store.