A former Allen University vice president has alleged in court documents that she was sexually harassed by the Rev. Charles Young, the school’s president.

Sonya Melton, formerly the vice president for enrollment and at one time Young’s assistant, has sued Young, the university and the African Methodist Episcopal Church, which runs the university, according to the State newspaper in Columbia.

She claims university and church officials were aware of Young’s actions but took no steps to stop him, the newspaper reported Tuesday.

Her allegations, outlined in a 17-page document filed in U.S. District Court in Columbia, says that in 2006 and 2007 Young tried to force her into having sex with him, attempted to control her relationships with others and even choked her, the State reported.

Melton alleges that, because she did not respond to Young’s advances, she was demoted to associate vice president of enrollment management and placed in a basement office.

The university’s attorney, Steve Morrison, did not respond, the State reported.

Allen's 2008-09 enrollment was the highest in the school’s 139-year history -- 727 students, according to the university's website.

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