VOA慢速英语2018 密歇根州立大学支付5亿美元赔偿性侵受害者（在线收听）

Michigan State University to Pay $500 Million to Victims of Larry Nassar

Michigan State University has agreed to pay $500 million to more than 300 women and girls who have said they were sexually abused by sports doctor Larry Nassar.

密歇根州立大学已经同意向300多名声称被队医拉里·拉萨尔（Larry Nassar）侵犯的女性赔付5亿美元。

Nassar worked at MSU from 1997 to 2016.

纳萨尔1997年到2016年期间在密歇根州立大学工作。

The university and lawyers for 332 victims announced the deal Wednesday after private negotiations.

该大学和332名受害者的律师经过私下谈判后于周三宣布了这一协议。

Brian Breslin, chair of the university’s board, said in a statement, “We are truly sorry to all the survivors and their families for what they have been through…”

密歇根大学董事会主席布赖恩·布雷斯林（Brian Breslin）在声明中表示：“我们对受害者的遭遇向受害者及其家属表示诚心道歉。”

He also said the university understands “the need for change on our campus and in our community around sexual assault awareness and prevention.”

他还表示，该大学认识到“我们校园及社区围绕性侵犯意识和预防需要做出改变。”

Under the agreement, $425 million would be paid to the currently known victims. The remaining $75 million would be set aside for any future claims.

根据协议，4.25亿美元将被赔付给目前已知的受害者，剩下的7500万美元将留待任何未来的索赔。

John Manly, one of the lawyers for the victims, said in a statement, “This historic settlement came about through the bravery of more than 300 women and girls who had the courage to stand up and refused to be silenced.”

受害者律师之一的约翰·曼利（John Manly）在声明中表示：“这一历史性解决方案是凭借300多名受害女性拒绝沉默勇敢站出来的勇气实现的。”

Michigan State has been accused of ignoring or dismissing complaints about Nassar, some as far back as the 1990s. The university says that no one covered up assaults.

密歇根州立大学被指控无视或驳回了对纳萨尔的投诉。有些投诉远至上世纪90年代。该大学声称没有人掩盖性侵。

Almost all of the victims say Nassar touched them in and around their sex organs during medical appointments, without wearing gloves. Nassar told the patients that the invasive action was necessary to treat their sports-related injuries.

几乎所有受害者都表示，纳萨尔在就诊期间不戴手套触摸了她们性器官内部或周围。纳萨尔告诉患者，侵入动作对于治疗她们的运动损伤是必要的。

Along with Michigan State, Nassar also worked at USA Gymnastics for almost 30 years.

除了密歇根大学，纳萨尔还在美国体操界工作了近30年。

Many top American gymnasts, including Simone Biles and Aly Raisman, have said Nassar sexually abused them. They say their abuse happened during training camps in Texas and at competitions around the world.

包括西蒙斯·比尔斯（Simone Biles）和艾莉·莱斯曼（Aly Raisman）在内的很多美国顶级体操运动员都表示纳萨尔性侵了她们。她们称这些性侵发生在德克萨斯州的训练营以及世界各地的比赛中。

But the majority of Nassar’s victims say they were abused during medical appointments at Michigan State.

但是大多数纳萨尔的受害者表示，她们是在密歇根大学就医期间受到侵犯。

Nassar received two prison sentences earlier this year in Michigan -- one for up to 125 years and another for up to 175 years. The cases involved the abuse of young women at his Michigan State office.

纳萨尔今年早些时候在密歇根州两次被判监禁，一次长达125年，另一次长达175年。这些案件涉及了他在密歇根州办公室侵犯年轻女性。

During sentencing, hundreds of women read statements in court about the effects of the abuse.

在宣判期间，数百名女性在法庭上宣布了关于性侵影响的声明。

Last year, Nassar was also sentenced to 60 years in federal prison for possessing sexual images of children.

去年，纳萨尔因为持有儿童色情照片被判在联邦监狱服刑60年。

The settlement only concerns Michigan State. Many victims have brought similar legal actions against USA Gymnastics, the United States Olympic Committee, national team coaches and local clubs where Nassar treated gymnasts.

该协议只涉及密歇根州。很多受害者已经对美国体操协会、美国奥委会、国家队教练以及当地俱乐部提起了类似的法律讼诉。

I’m Ashley Thompson.

Words in This Story

campus - n. the area and buildings around a university, college, school, etc.

assault - n. the crime of trying or threatening to hurt someone physically

courage - n. the ability to do something that you know is difficult or dangerous

complaint - n. the act of saying or writing that you are unhappy or dissatisfied with something

glove - n. a covering for the hand that has separate parts for each finger