'He called me Honey Bear': Berkeley student and two others claim they were sexually harassed by male professor but the school did nothing

A UC Berkeley student has come forward and detailed her alleged nightmare encounter with a professor as she joins other women who have taken legal action against the male faculty at the school.

While in her final year at the university, Nicole Hemenway claims she had multiple uncomfortable and inappropriate encounters with her thesis adviser Blake Wentworth.

Hemenway, now 24, was earning a degree in South Asian studies when she approached Wentworth and asked if he'd become her adviser. 

She said Wentworth is well-known and well-connected in the field, and as time went on and the encounters grew more sexual in nature, she feared speaking out would destroy her career before it began. 

Nicole Hemenway, 24, (pictured) said she was harassed by UC Berkeley professor during her senior year and is now joining other women in forming a case against him 

The professor advised Hemenway from the fall of 2014 to the spring of 2015.

Early into their academic relationship Wentworth pulled Hemenway aside as she left class, she said. She claims he was in tears and told her other students were complaining that he had 'harassed' them.

He took Hemenway behind a building, she said. There he allegedly told her not to report if he ever made her feel uncomfortable because he could lose his job.

He also called Hemenway a 'gorgeous young woman' and said other men in the department thought she was an 'obvious target' for sexual harassment, according to a complaint obtained by the Guardian.

He allegedly said other men were 'jealous that such beautiful young women are always coming and going from my office'.

During a private meeting in Wentworth's office, he told Hemenway he was interested in pursuing a romantic relationship with her after she graduated, it is claimed.

'I will always honor professor-student boundaries. Once you graduate, that's an entirely different scenario. I look forward to the day when you graduate… But until then, just know that I will never come onto you or make you feel uncomfortable. Got that, honey?' the Guardian reported, quoting a complaint made by Hemenway.

According to Hemenway, Wentworth called her 'honey' and 'honey bear' repeatedly and put his hands on hers while complimenting her and staring deep into her eyes.

California graduate students Erin Bennett (center, right) and Kathleen Gutierrez (center, left) speak at a news conference on the campus of UC Berkeley last month

Both filed a complaint regarding alleged sexual harassment by a University of California Berkeley professor

Hemenway said after this encounter in February of 2015, she avoided Wentworth as much as possible. 

She even tried to skip her own graduation so she wouldn't be forced to interact with him.

Hemenway filed her own case against Wentworth to add support to two fellow students who claim they were harassed and have also filed their own cases against him. 

'He got plenty of warnings. My harassment never should've happened if Berkeley was doing its job... His rights have taken precedence over our rights,' Hemenway told the Guardian.

Last fall, UC Berkeley determined an allegation against Wentworth was credible. 

He is not the only professor to garner complaints. The school made public documents saying claims against 19 professors accused of misconduct had been substantiated. 

Eleven of those professors resigned or had contracts terminated but none were fired. Wentworth was among those professors complained about but not fired.   

Still, the school will not comment on his employment status and it is believed no disciplinary action was taken against him.

At least seven students have given written testimony complaining about Wentworth's behavior.

UC Berkeley has had an issue with harassment of students, making public a document saying claims against 19 professors accused of misconduct had been substantiated - 11 of whom resigned or were terminated but not fired. Blake Wentworth, the man accused of harassing Hemenway, was among those complained about but not fired 

Hemenway said she now fears she won't be able to pursue her chosen career of South Asian studies.  

'I understand so well now what barriers to entry in a male-dominated field means and how difficult it is to cross those barriers. The system isn't made for me,' she said.

In April, UC president Janet Napolitano announced reforms to help the school increase accountability of investigations, improve the reporting process for victims, develop sanctions that match the seriousness of substantiated complaints, and ensure that processes are completely in a timely manner, the Guardian reported.

Wentworth's case is still sluggishly moving forward - if it is moving forward at all - despite these reforms.