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Michael Vaughn stood on a small table as he peered over a 6-foot-tall wooden fence in his backyard in Liverpool, N.Y. But he didn’t stay stationary long. Lingering for even a few seconds could be the difference between life and death. A man was unconscious at the bottom of a neighbor’s in-ground pool. Vaughn, who was certified in CPR just a month prior, put what he learned into action. The senior pre-physical therapy major’s bout of heroism happened on Aug. 19, just a few days before Vaughn was to start his last semester at UB. Because of a touch of serendipity, Vaughn was able to save a life that Monday morning. If the former history major were still on path to become a teacher, he likely wouldn’t have undergone CPR training. But Vaughn’s mother, who encouraged Vaughn to intervene in the incident, and friends aren’t surprised by his life-saving actions and innate ability to stay cool under pressure. “You learn to expect the unexpected with Mikey Vaughn,” said friend Patrick Smith, a graduate student in the physical therapy program. Vaughn, 23, and his mother, Kelly, heard fits of panic and yells in Spanish, through their open windows, coming from a neighbor’s yard. Vaughn was in his room packing clothes up for school, and when Kelly decided the two had to help, Vaughn didn’t berate his mother for being too nosey – he agreed they had to get involved. “OK mom, let’s go,” Vaughn said, as the pair dashed outside from their home’s second story. Kelly put a little table in place so Vaughn could get over the fence. He saw a 225-pound, 44-year-old man lying unconscious at the bottom of the pool. Panic engulfed the backyard as a distraught relative tried to reach the man, who was visiting from Costa Rica, with a pool skimmer. Vaughn said it appeared the man’s relatives didn’t know how to swim. He leaped over the fence without hesitation. He stood at the edge of the pool. “Breaths first or pumps first?” he asked himself as he removed his socks and glasses. The training he received a month ago needed to be recalled instantly.
HOMETOWN wednesday, september 4, 2013
HERO
Student Vaughn saves a life before returning to UB BY SARA DINATALE | Managing Editor
Aline Kobayashi, The Spectrum
“There’s something about me where I don’t really react like a normal person should,” he admitted. Vaughn, who had just completed a triathlon the day before, is methodical and has a tendency not to panic in intense situations. He was mugged while studying abroad in South Africa in spring 2012 and, even then, he doesn’t remember getting flustered. Removing his socks, albeit not most people’s first reaction, gave him a few seconds to prepare himself and focus on what he needed to do, he said.
This wasn’t like a triathlon. The day before, he accidently swallowed a mouth full of water as he swam swiftly and was intently focused on completing the 1,000-meter swim of the three-part competition. In the triathlon, Vaughn knew what to expect. He practiced. He prepared. He had run through the day’s motions before as he trained. But the only experience he had with CPR was on practice dummies in the 8-hour course he took – a course he only took as a technicality because it was required in order to apply to the University of Mary-
UB discusses potential U.S. involvement in Syria JOE KONZE JR
News Editor
On Saturday, President Barack Obama announced he is seeking congressional authorization to take military action in punitive strikes against the Syrian government for alleged use of chemical weapons. In his speech, Obama laid out that the United States has a “moral responsibility to respond forcefully” to the situation. A decision will be reached when Congress reviews the matter upon its return from recess on Sept. 9. Americans, including the UB community, are debating the decision and its implications. James Ingram, a junior political science major and former communication director of the College Republicans, believes the president acknowledging the legislative branch, even though he does not have to, is an important aspect of democracy. “I think as an American, as a citizen, I always think it’s great when the president passes down an important decision like this to Congress,” Ingram said. “We elect our Congress. It takes it down into more of a localized fashion. I feel like the people get more of a say versus just one executive.” Michael Calliste, a junior economics and political science major and member of the College Democrats, agrees with Ingram and finds Obama’s call on Congress “impressive.”
Grading the Bulls after 40-20 loss at Ohio State
Courtesy of Flickr user veganrapnerd
President Barack Obama announced he is seeking congressional approval for military action against the Syrian government for allegedly using chemical weapons against its people. The UB community discussed the impact the decision could have nationally and globally.
Calliste believes the issue is important not only because of its impact on the United States but also because of the debated moral obligation that comes with it. “Despite Congress’ inability to pass major laws, I think that going to them with a humanitarian issue of this magnitude – representatives of the states – is always the best matter,” Calliste said. With just a few days before the House and Senate reconvene, there are many questions that need to be answered about the potential effects of a military intervention. In April 2011, peaceful protests challenged the leadership of Syria. Reports indicated that the government responded to the protestors
by kidnapping, raping, torturing and killing activists – including children. There were also reports of dumping and leaving mutated bodies at the side of the road. Civilians took matters into their own hands, arming themselves and organizing rebel groups. Over the last two years, these events have escalated quickly. The death toll has reached over 100,000 and the number of refugees over 2 million, according to The Portland Press Herald. With tension running high in the Middle East, international attention has shifted toward the United States and whether it will intervene in the ongoing crisis. See syria, page 2
land’s physical therapy school – the only one of the five schools he applied to with such an admissions requirement. In the triathlon, Vaughn had a watch he’d use keep track of his pace. But when he dove into the pool to retrieve the man, his perception of time was lost. There wasn’t a steady pace to follow – he just knew he had to get the man above water as soon as possible. And he thought he had to do it alone. Though the family and another neighbor gathered, Vaughn was the only one capable of hoisting
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the man out of the pool. Vaughn, who stands at 5-foot-7 with an athletic build, was intimidated by maneuvering the man out of the water alone. But another neighbor appeared – a former nurse – who was able to help pull the man on land. The man was unconscious and didn’t have a pulse. Time was warped. Fifteen seconds felt like an eternity. He began performing the pumps and breaths necessary to revive the man. The former nurse stepped in and assisted Vaughn with the pumps as he continued trying to fill the man’s lungs with air. After three CPR cycles, the man started spitting up water. He vomited. His heart was beating and he was breathing. Ambulances arrived shortly after. Vaughn estimates the whole ordeal took about four minutes, but it felt a lot longer. “If I didn’t know CPR, he probably would have gone another three or four minutes without breathing,” Vaughn said. “The brain is just going to shut off after that.” The America Heart Association reports 70 percent of people “will feel helpless” when someone around them has a cardiac emergency because they don’t know CPR or have a lapse in training. The man Vaughn saved was in critical condition the day of the incident, according Syracuse’s newspaper The Post-Standard’s website. Vaughn wouldn’t comment about the victim beyond confirming he was alive and adding the thankful family told him he’d always have a home in Costa Rica. The man’s niece didn’t even see Vaughn hop over the fence, but rather saw a guardian angel lift her uncle out the water, according to Kelly, who also spoke with the man’s family. Vaughn said his one-day training also consisted of first aid and automated external defibrillator (AED) training, which certified him to use the portable electronic device. UB offers the same kind of training in combination with the American Heart Association within the Recreation & Intramural Services department located at South Campus’ Clark Hall. SEE VAUGHN, PAGE 2
UB settles harassment lawsuit for $255,000 A former UB employee has settled a harassment lawsuit against the school and a former associate dean for the amount of $255,000. Lesley Shiner, 64, a former clerk in the School of Dental Medicine, accused Dr. Jude Fabiano, 62, the former associate dean of clinical affairs in the School of Dental Medicine, of making unwanted sexual advances at a holiday party December 21, 2010. Fabiano will pay $40,000 of the settlement and UB will pay the remaining $215,000. The money will cover damages and legal fees. Shiner also agreed to withdraw the complaint to the university as part of the settlement. In the lawsuit, Shiner claimed to be badly traumatized by the alleged advancements. As part of the settlement, UB and Fabiano reached the agreement “without any admission of liability, guilt or wrongdoing on the part of defendants.” “By settling the lawsuit, Dr. Fabiano doesn’t have an opportunity to present his case fully in front of jury,” Michael A. Brady, Fabiano’s attorney, said to The Buffalo News. “He at all times has denied any intention of ever discriminating against the plaintiff or ever intentionally trying to harm her in any way. The determination to resolve the lawsuit was made largely out of financial considerations.” Shiner claimed the dental school had a history of being a sexually hostile workplace, according to
the lawsuit. Some testimonies from various faculty members of the School of Dental Medicine supported Shiner’s claim that she was sexually harassed at that Christmas party. Others contradicted her assertion and some said she did not look uncomfortable during her interaction with Fabiano. One worker said it was a “weird party” and that people were sitting on others’ laps and many were touching each other. Fabiano had requested reimbursement for legal fees regarding his lawsuit against the State Attorney General’s Office. Fabiano was charged with two misdemeanors – forcible touching and unlawful imprisonment – and harassment, which is a violation. The court dismissed the unlawful imprisonment charge and Fabiano was acquitted of forcible touching. He was, however, convicted of harassment. His attorney for the harassment charge, Kevin Spitler, claimed the Town of Tonawanda court excluded evidence that would have been beneficial to his case. Fabiano has since waived the request for reimbursement and the proceeding on the harassment case is scheduled for Sept. 30. Email: news@ubspectrum.com