OSU student taken off life support

[James]

Barometer
Oregon State University
March 7, 2002

OSU student taken off life support

Dean of Students Rich Shintaku hopes the incident will be a
"teachable moment" to educate students about risk behaviors

By SARAH LINN
Barometer City Editor

Oregon State student Spencer Haugh was taken off life support
Wednesday after remaining in critical condition since his fall from a
fraternity house fire escape late Friday.

As of press time, Haugh remained in critical condition.

Haugh, 20, suffered severe head and spinal injuries after he fell
from a second-story fire escape at Kappa Sigma, where he was visiting.

According to Capt. Bob Deutsch of the Corvallis Police Department,
the junior art major from Gresham was apparently sitting on the thin,
metal railing of the fire escape when he fell backward over the
railing.

Haugh's blood-alcohol level was above .20 - twice the level at which
drivers are considered legally drunk in Oregon.

Corvallis officers continue to investigate the fall, which officers
think was accidental.

Haugh is currently at Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland in the
traumatic and intensive care unit. He was transferred there Saturday
from Corvallis' Good Samaritan Hospital.

OSU Dean of Students Rich Shintaku visited Haugh's family Tuesday
morning at the hospital. He said that many family members had flown
in to spend time with Haugh.

"I wanted to be there to express my support," said Shintaku, who took
office in August 2001.

A number of OSU students and friends have also journeyed to Haugh's
Gresham home to show their support of Spencer.

"The decision was made to take Spencer off life support, and at this
point it's a matter of time before he passes on," Shintaku said.

Spencer's mother, Kathryn Haugh, expressed her concern for her son's
fellow students and friends, who may be going through a difficult
time. University Counseling and Psychological Services is offering
counseling and support for students.

Haugh, who is not a fraternity member, transferred to OSU this fall
from Spokane Falls Community College. His brother, nuclear
engineering graduate student Brandon Haugh, and girlfriend also
attend Oregon State.

Shintaku said that the university hopes to use the incident as a
"teachable moment" to educate students about risk behaviors.

"We need to have some campus conversations," Shintaku said, adding
that the university will explore other potential risk management that
was in place.

"You've got to take a look wholistically at all behaviors - not just
alcohol use - that could be a risk and learn to manage them," he said.

He would also like to examine Kappa Sigma's risk management program.

Shintaku said that a memorial service may be organized by family and
friends to honor Haugh.

"He touched a number of students on campus and I think (the incident)
affects us on campus as showing how precious life is," Shintaku said.
"It is a loss for all of us as members of the OSU community."