LEWISBURG -- Three Bucknell University students have been suspended pending conduct proceedings for using language on a campus radio station broadcast that included a racial slur.

The three, a disc jockey and two guests on the show, used reprehensible language that also included references to racially motivated violence, Bucknell spokesman Andy Hirsch said Saturday.

"I am deeply saddened for the pain this will cause in our community," university President John Bravman said. "We are better than this."

The incident occurred March 20 on WVBU, the student-run FM station, but presumably due to the station's low listenership, it did not come to the attention of the Bucknell administration until Thursday, Hirsch said.

A full investigation of this incident is underway, and other participants could be identified, Bravman said.

"All will be held fully accountable for their actions, with possible sanctions up to and including expulsion," he said.

"We will not perpetuate racist and violent comments by sharing the audio or recapitulating the language used," Hirsch said.

"Doing so would only give greater exposure to messages that are hurtful and antithetical to our institutional values."

Bravman, in a message he sent Thursday evening to the entire campus community, wrote:

"Such behavior is unacceptable and inexcusable.

"This is not who we are. In fact, it is the antithesis of what so many of our students, faculty and staff are working hard to attain -- a more diverse and inclusive environment.

"I urge you to defy this detestable conduct by not letting it thwart our progress toward a greater Bucknell."

Bucknell would not release the names of the students who have been suspended.

The radio station's website states it offers diverse music content from alternative rock to show tunes, hip-hop to sports talk.