Mt. SAC Athletes Sue School for Alleged Sexual Harassment

Seven student athletes from the Mt. San Antonio College women's track team filed a lawsuit Friday against their school and members of its athletic staff, claiming that they were sexually harassed by the team's former assistant coach.

Former Assistant Coach Carlos Moore allegedly harassed the women via text message, touched them inappropriately and held them against their will in areas of the athletic department.  The women also claim that Moore harassed them off of the Mt. SAC campus as well, often while at track meets at other schools.

They allege the harassment began in September 2010, a month after they first began attending the college, and did not end until March of this year.

According to the lawsuit, athletes who complained about Moore were given poor performance reviews by athletic department staff and were prevented from participating in track team events.

Mt. SAC athletic administrators knew of or should have known the "propensities regarding [Moore's] inappropriate sexual conduct with students", but failed to take action, the lawsuit says.

"We do not comment on ongoing litigation, especially in this case as we just recieved the lawsuit," said Jill Dolan, Mt. SAC Director of Public Affairs.

The seven track team members are asking for unspecified damages.