[ti:Michigan State University to Pay $500 Million to Victims of Larry Nassar] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:00.20]Michigan State University has agreed to pay $500 million [00:07.44]to more than 300 women and girls who have said [00:12.72]they were sexually abused by sports doctor Larry Nassar. [00:18.60]Nassar worked at MSU from 1997 to 2016. [00:26.12]The university and lawyers for 332 victims [00:31.72]announced the deal Wednesday after private negotiations. [00:37.08]Brian Breslin, chair of the university's board, said in a statement, [00:42.92]"We are truly sorry to all the survivors and their families [00:48.00]for what they have been through..." [00:50.64]He also said the university understands "the need for change on our campus [00:57.28]and in our community around sexual assault awareness and prevention." [01:04.36]Under the agreement, $425 million [01:09.24]would be paid to the currently known victims. [01:13.16]The remaining $75 million would be set aside for any future claims. [01:20.36]John Manly, one of the lawyers for the victims, said in a statement, [01:26.08]"This historic settlement came about through the bravery [01:30.52]of more than 300 women and girls [01:33.80]who had the courage to stand up and refused to be silenced." [01:40.12]Michigan State has been accused of ignoring [01:43.72]or dismissing complaints about Nassar, some as far back as the 1990s. [01:51.00]The university says that no one covered up assaults. [01:56.16]Almost all of the victims say Nassar touched them in and around their sex organs [02:03.88]during medical appointments, without wearing gloves. [02:08.96]Nassar told the patients that the invasive action was necessary [02:14.68]to treat their sports-related injuries. [02:18.84]Along with Michigan State, [02:20.96]Nassar also worked at USA Gymnastics for almost 30 years. [02:26.52]Many top American gymnasts, including Simone Biles and Aly Raisman, [02:32.64]have said Nassar sexually abused them. [02:36.56]They say their abuse happened during training camps in Texas [02:41.00]and at competitions around the world. [02:44.24]But the majority of Nassar's victims [02:47.28]say they were abused during medical appointments at Michigan State. [02:53.16]Nassar received two prison sentences earlier this year in Michigan [02:58.80]-- one for up to 125 years and another for up to 175 years. [03:06.84]The cases involved the abuse of young women at his Michigan State office. [03:13.04]During sentencing, hundreds of women read statements in court [03:17.55]about the effects of the abuse. [03:20.72]Last year, Nassar was also sentenced to 60 years in federal prison [03:26.80]for possessing sexual images of children. [03:30.84]The settlement only concerns Michigan State. [03:34.72]Many victims have brought similar legal actions against USA Gymnastics, [03:40.52]the United States Olympic Committee, national team coaches [03:45.08]and local clubs where Nassar treated gymnasts. [03:49.64]I'm Ashley Thompson. [03:51.04]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM