(AP) -- A South Carolina woman has sued a university president, accusing him of sexual harassment.

Multiple media outlets reported that a former vice president at Allen University in Columbia, Sonya Melton, has sued school president Charles Young in federal court.

The lawsuit accuses Young of coercing Melton into having sex and attempting to control her relationships and choking and shoving her between 2006 and 2008. Melton says she was demoted in 2008 after she requested a meeting with school officials.

Young's attorney, Steve Morrison, would not talk about the lawsuit Tuesday, saying the school has a policy against talking about pending legal matters.

Melton's lawyer, Benjamin Mabry says his client is on leave. He would not talk about the lawsuit.

Young has been president of the school for eight years.

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