Santa Cruz native files claim over racial abuse at university

A black student who was the victim of racial harassment at a California university has filed a $5 million claim against the school.

According to the San Jose Mercury News, Donald Williams says an adviser at his San Jose State University dormitory, Charles May, knew that a bike lock had been fastened to his neck, but did little about it.

Williams is a native of Santa Cruz.

Four white students have pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor hate crime charges in the case. They are accused of putting the bike lock on Williams and also taunting him with racial slurs, barricading him in his room and putting up a Confederate flag.

University spokeswoman Pat Lopes Harris says the school does not comment on pending claims. Contact information for May could not immediately be found.

A claim is often a precursor to a lawsuit.