ATLANTA — A Morehouse College student who claimed a staff member sexually assaulted him is speaking out and also plans to take legal action.
Michael Key stood beside his attorney Monday during a press conference to talk about the tweet he shared last week that went viral. In the video posted to Twitter, Keys accused DeMarcus Crews of the misconduct.
On the school's website, Crews is listed as the Assistant director of Student Services. His LinkedIn profile lists his title as the Interim Director of Department Housing and Residential Education.
Key recounted the day he decided to make the social media post.
“I woke up one morning and I just started crying," he said. “I sent my mom a message saying I didn’t want to be here anymore."
He said he opened up to his parents and they told him to do what he felt was necessary, so he decided to record the video. Now others, he said, are sharing their similar stories with him.
“It’s something that I didn’t know a lot of people experience, especially a lot of men," he added.
His mother, Salena Brewer, said she wants justice for her son.
“I feel like Morehouse has failed us as parents," Brewer said. "I feel like Morehouse has failed the students."
Now, his attorneys are hoping this conversation causes changes at the school. One of Key's lawyers, Tiffany Simmons, said they plan on filing a lawsuit against Morehouse.
“We also plan to pursue criminal as well as civil charges against DeMarcus Crews," Simmons added, as she defended her client, Key.
“He didn’t not come from Chicago, Illinois to Atlanta to be stalked, to be harassed or to be assaulted at the hands of a school official in whom he should have had trust in," Simmons said.
Now, Key said he doesn't want to continue his studies at Morehouse. He claims he had been trying unsuccessfully for more than 18 months to get Morehouse to take action. He said his tweet helped him get a response.
"That's when I really started to get a reaction from the school, after I posted the video," he said.
"This is a disgrace that Morehouse has allowed this to happen," Simmons said.
RELATED: Morehouse College students accuse school of ignoring sex assault complaints against employees
Morehouse released the following statement on Monday:
Morehouse College is committed to providing a safe environment free from sexual misconduct and discrimination. We will investigate and respond swiftly to any allegation of sexual misconduct.
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. The employee alleged to be involved in the case has been placed on administrative leave, without pay, pending the outcome of the investigation.
The College encourages anyone who feels that they are a victim of sexual misconduct at Morehouse to come forward and call the Ethics & Compliance Hotline at 888-299-9540.
11Alive also reached out to Crews but did not hear back.