In the latest insult to victims of sexual assault from Baylor, former football coach Art Briles walked away with a $15.1 million payment after his dismissal in 2016 while former university president Ken Starr received $4.52 million.

The news, reported Friday after the Dallas Morning News obtained documents showing dollar amounts received by the terminated individuals, is saddening because once again, the group of people who have suffered the most remain in limbo.

There are five active lawsuits against the school — one with 12 victims of sexual assault —that could drag out for well over another year before any of the victims see a penny, let alone justice.

Briles was fired after the Philadelphia law firm Pepper Hamilton released its "Finding of Fact," which came after it investigated Baylor's practices and policies after a football player was accused of raping another student.

In the report, there are five references to "coaches" and "football staff" engaging in behavior that stifled university and criminal investigations.

In the wake of the scandal

Briles and athletic director Ian McCaw were immediately fired following the report. McCaw, who has the same position at Liberty University, received $761,059 after his dismissal.

Briles filed a libel lawsuit in 2017 but dropped it soon after. The day after he did, text messages and emails that showed he had direct knowledge his players were committing illegal acts —including sexual assault — were released.

Briles’ firing was justified.

Briles was two years into a $39 million contract when he was dismissed.

That $15 million he walked away with would have been much better served going toward the victims.

Two lawsuits have been settled and those victims have been criticized for taking money rather than letting their cases play out in court.

Blaming and shaming of victims continue from a loud group of Briles supporters who take to social media often to call out women who were raped and assaulted by Baylor football players during his era at the school.

“I don’t understand the harsh judgment we get for wanting to settle or receive any kind of money,” one woman, who was raped while a student at Baylor in 2012, said. “I dropped out of school because I was really depressed. I couldn’t focus. I needed medical help and couldn’t afford that. I couldn’t afford to go back to school right away.”

Getting on with her life

She eventually returned to school and took the next three years to earn a bachelor's degree. Six years after her assault, she is seeing a therapist and working through the PTSD with which she has been diagnosed.

“I think it’s easy for people on the outside to think that women who are raped can just get over it,” she said. “It’s not easy. It changes your whole life. I don’t think I will ever be OK again. But at least I am getting help and learning to deal with that now.”

Settlements can help these victims.

So can change.

Baylor has implemented all of the 105 recommendations from Pepper Hamilton and has overhauled its Title IX office and practices.

New coach Matt Rhule recently suspended two players from the Baylor football team who are being investigated for sexual assault.

That is the correct way to handle that situation. Rather than attempt to cover it up, it’s important to cooperate, to make sure the right thing is being done and to set standards on a team.

Sexual assault is rampant on college campuses. Unfortunately, it’s an epidemic. It only gets worse when universities or athletic departments don’t do everything in their power to stop it.

The Baylor athletic department — mainly the football team under the direction of Briles — did not. Instead, it fostered a culture where these acts were covered up. Players who committed them continued to practice and play football; the attacked women were questioned and ignored.

When it was all said and done, Briles walked away with $15.1 million; victims would spend the next several years tied up in legal action while being shamed and called names by Briles’ many supporters.

Fallout far from over

He has been unable to find a job, but several on his staff have, including his son Kendal who is the University of Houston’s offensive coordinator.

The former coaches, including Briles, have not publicly admitted any wrongdoing and haven’t commented much on the scandal during their tenure.

There have been no apologies directly to victims from the coaches for their roles in covering up sexual assault. And there have been no acknowledgements these acts were happening, despite evidence to the contrary.

This isn't over. More victims will come forward. More details will be released.

All the while, those who had power to step forward and make a difference are working in new jobs or have walked away with millions of dollars for their troubles.

Once again, the victims are the ones who have suffered the most in this whole ordeal. This latest news proves it.