2 graduate students file sexual harassment lawsuit against UC Board of Regents

WESTWOOD, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Two graduate students are suing the UC Board of Regents after the University of California, Los Angeles failed to act when the pair claimed they were repeatedly being sexually assaulted and harassed by a history professor.

Kristen Hillarie Glasgow said when she came forward to report being sexually harassed, officials at UCLA did not act on the information.

"I was actually told please don't say anything about this over and over and over again," she said.

Glasgow and Nefertiti Takla are now suing the UC Board of Regents. The women claim history professor Gabriel Piterberg sexually assaulted and sexually harassed them repeatedly, and that he would always shift conversations to a sexual nature.

According to the lawsuit, Glasgow claims on one occasion Piterberg forced himself on her. Takla claims Piterberg grabbed her waist and buttocks.

In a statement, Takla said, "I filed the lawsuit because I believe that no graduate student should ever have to endure the fear, embarrassment and harm that I suffered when I was sexually harassed and assaulted by a trusted mentor."

Piterberg was not teaching during this year's spring semester. He has been a faculty member at UCLA since 2000.

UCLA said it is committed "to providing an environment free from harassment and discrimination," but cannot comment further on the lawsuit.