The Ohio State $100 million settlement, approved on Wednesday, brings the university closer to resolving one of the most painful chapters in its history. The agreement will compensate hundreds of former student athletes who say they were sexually abused decades ago by a university doctor.

Since 2018, the school has battled lawsuits in federal court filed by former athletes who accused the institution of failing to stop the abuse carried out by Dr. Richard Strauss. Strauss worked at Ohio State from 1978 to 1998 and also operated an off-campus clinic. He died in 2005.

The Board Signs Off

At a meeting on Wednesday, the university’s Board of Trustees approved a preliminary agreement covering all but one of the 280 survivors whose claims remain tied up in ongoing litigation. Once the details are finalized, the deal could draw the lengthy legal fight to a close.

University president Ravi Bellamkonda struck a conciliatory tone during the meeting, describing the survivors as permanent members of the Buckeye community. He praised their courage in coming forward and called reaching a final resolution an important step for the school.

A Pattern of Warnings Ignored

The case has long been shadowed by evidence that Ohio State knew about Strauss for years and did nothing. An independent report concluded that numerous university personnel were aware of complaints about his conduct as far back as 1979, yet failed for years to investigate or take meaningful action.

In a joint statement, the university and the plaintiffs thanked the mediators involved and said they were continuing to work out the final terms of the settlements.

This latest agreement is not the university’s first. Ohio State had previously settled with 317 survivors for more than $61 million. Many of those former athletes signed sealed agreements that kept their identities private. According to a lawyer connected to one of the lawsuits, some former NFL players were among the victims.

Survivors Speak Out

The human weight of the case comes through in the accounts of those who endured the abuse. Two of Strauss’s accusers, former student athletes Steve Snyder-Hill and Ron McDaniel, shared their experiences publicly in 2018.

Snyder-Hill recalled the vulnerability he felt during an examination, describing how the situation deteriorated while he sat undressed in front of the doctor. He said that after he reported what happened, the director of student health services responded with a letter claiming no prior complaints about Strauss had ever been received.

McDaniel painted a different picture, insisting that Strauss’s behavior had been an open secret for years. He recounted how he and others believed they were doing the right thing by telling their coach, trusting the athletic department, trainers, and medical staff to act responsibly. That trust, the survivors’ accounts make clear, was badly misplaced.

A Note on a Difficult Subject

This is a sensitive topic involving sexual abuse. If you or someone you know has been affected by abuse and needs support, I’m happy to help locate appropriate resources and helplines.