Update (July 24, 2019): DeMarcus Crews, the interim director of Housing and Residential Education at Morehouse College who was accused of sexually assaulting by at least two students, has been officially placed on administrative leave as the school investigates the allegations.

“DeMarcus Crews has been put on unpaid administrative leave effective immediately pending more information from the investigation,” the HBCU revealed in a July 17 statement obtained by CNN.

The following day, the all-male college added that their probe will also examine accusations made against several other staffers also accused of sexual misconduct.

“Morehouse College is expanding its sexual misconduct investigation to include the examination of new complaints filed against additional employees. The new complaints were reported Wednesday following allegations made by students on social media.”

Unfortunately, the claims don’t just stop at Morehouse. Michael Key, the student who accused Crews of assault, spoke with reporters Monday and said identical complaints have surfaced at surrounding colleges in the Atlanta area.

“It’s something that I didn’t know a lot of people experience, especially a lot of men,” Key told 11 Alive. The student’s mother, Selena Brewer, echoed her son’s remarks and chastised the school for neglecting to take action when complaints first surfaced.

“I feel like Morehouse has failed us as parents,” Brewer said. “I feel like Morehouse has failed the students.”

In their statement, Morehouse also encouraged students who believe they are victims of sexual assault to contact the Ethics & Compliance Hotline at 888-299-9540.

Original story: Many are outraged after several Morehouse College students have come forward, alleging that the historically Black institution for higher education ignored a sexual harassment complaint filed against a male staff member. 

News of the controversy gained attention earlier this week after a Morehouse sophomore posted videos on Twitter accusing DeMarcus Crews, interim director of student housing and resident education, of sexual assault. The student said he reported the ordeal to the college’s Title IX office, but no action was taken. 

“So I'm finally ready to tell what happened. Since [the] second semester of my freshman year, I was assaulted by a staff member of Morehouse College by the name of DeMarcus Crews,” the student said in the video. 

Other Morehouse students have posted similar accounts about Crews, CBS News reports, stating that the resident director sexually assaulted them. 

“I too had the same experience at Morehouse College,” wrote one student named Bryson Karter. “What DeMarcus Crews is doing is disgusting and beyond inappropriate.” 

Since the students’ videos have gone viral, Morehouse has responded, saying it has launched an investigation into the allegations and Crews is now on unpaid leave. 

“Maintaining a safe and secure campus for students, faculty, staff, and visitors is a priority at Morehouse College. We will take appropriate and immediate action against anyone involved in compromising the safety of our community,” the college’s statement said. 

Morehouse President David Thomas also called for the school’s senior leadership to convene immediately on Tuesday night to address the issue.  

morehouse collegeSexual assault