In the wake of allegations of sexual harassment and assault against a Morehouse College administrator that lit up social media late last week, an attorney representing one of the young men said there appear to be numerous victims and perpetrators and accused the all-male school of ignoring complaints for years.
In a news conference Monday afternoon, attorney Tiffany M. Simmons said that in addition to her client, student Michael Key, two other Morehouse students and their families had contacted her within the last 48 hours with allegations of sexual harassment and assault by administrators and staff at the Black college in Atlanta.
“This is a disgrace that Morehouse has allowed this to happen not only to my client, but to other clients in similar situations,” said Simmons, who was joined by co-counsel Corey Martin outside his office in Douglasville, Ga.
“We want change, because this has happened too many times to my client, and other students,” Simmons said.
In a statement issued Monday evening, senior media and public relations manager Aileen Dodd largely reiterated an official statement last week: that the school is committed to providing a safe, harassment-free environment and that allegations of sexual misconduct will be swiftly addressed.
It added: “In the recent matter involving a student who made allegations against an employee on Twitter, the College is using a neutral third party for the investigation. The allegation is still under investigation.”
Simmons said civil and criminal charges are being prepared against Morehouse and assistant director of student affairs DeMarcus Crews, whom the college placed on unpaid administrative leave last week after Key and at least two other Morehouse students released Twitter videos accusing Crews.
