The Ohio State University Board of Trustees on Wednesday gave preliminary approval to a $100 million settlement covering nearly all former students who accused longtime campus physician Dr. Richard Strauss of sexual abuse. The deal resolves litigation from 279 of 280 plaintiffs, ending a legal battle that began in 2018.
Strauss, who worked at Ohio State from 1978 to 1998, died by suicide in 2005. Plaintiffs argued the university knew about his misconduct as early as 1979 but took no action to stop it. An independent report released years ago confirmed that multiple staff members were aware of complaints yet failed to intervene.
This is the second major payout from Ohio State related to the scandal. In February, the university settled with 317 survivors for over $61 million. The new agreement brings total compensation to more than $161 million for hundreds of victims.
University President Ravi Bellamkonda, who took office in March, addressed the survivors directly during the board meeting. “The survivors of the Strauss abuse are all Buckeyes, will always be part of our family and our community, and I firmly believe that,” he said. “We continue to be very grateful to them for their courage in coming forward and reaching a final resolution is very important to us and is an important step forward.”
In a joint statement, the university and plaintiffs thanked mediators for their assistance. “The mediation and its confidentiality are continuing as the parties work to finalize the details of the settlements, and additional information will be shared as appropriate,” the statement read.
Board chair John Zeiger said specific settlement figures for individual cases cannot be disclosed yet due to a federal court order protecting ongoing mediation. “It is important that we respect the court’s order and comply with the mediator’s directive to keep confidentiality in place for now, but we will provide additional information on this resolution when we are in a position to do so,” Zeiger said.
The case underscores broader issues of institutional accountability in handling abuse allegations. Similar dynamics have played out in other high-profile scandals, including the Pentagon’s handling of censorship claims involving Stars and Stripes and the backlash against federal employees who report misconduct.
Ohio State’s settlement is one of the largest ever paid by a public university in a sexual abuse case. Critics argue the institution’s failure to act allowed Strauss to continue abusing students for nearly two decades. Survivors and their attorneys have called the agreement a step toward justice, but note that no amount of money can undo the harm.
The university has not admitted liability as part of the settlement. However, the board’s approval signals a desire to close a painful chapter that has tarnished the school’s reputation. Bellamkonda emphasized that the survivors “will always be part of our family.”
