Two students are being praised for their assistance after a normal psychology class began to go awry when the professor started to have a stroke.

Psychology professor Paul Andronis was teaching his class the afternoon of Wednesday, Feb. 6, when, with just 10 minutes left of the period, he began to experience symptoms of a stroke. Two students, junior psychology major Bridgett Gorman and senior psychology and biology major Dana Shove jumped into action.

“I had noticed that [Andronis] had started talking a little bit slower, but I didn’t really think anything of it,” Gorman said. “Then he stopped mid sentence and said he felt dizzy, and we asked him if he was okay and he said he thought he was having a stroke. At that point, myself and a couple of other students decided we needed to take action. I ran and got help from a few staff
members while another student stayed in the classroom and another called for help.”

Gorman also noticed that Andronis had stopped talking with his hands as he usually would, and he began slurring his words. After mentioning he thought he was having a stroke, he smiled and the side of his face began to droop, she added.

Shove got her training from being a lifeguard in the past, and she said she’s kept the certification up to date since switching jobs. Currently, she works in the FitZone.

Shove said that time was like a blur during the situation.

“One second I was sitting down and the next I was on the ground with [Andronis] trying to keep everything calm,” Shove said.

Shove was thanked by a bystander classmate later for keeping the class calm.

“That was really humbling. I’ve never had to deal with anyone who’s had a stroke be- fore,” Shove said.

Shove has been trained on how to help stroke victims, but it wasn’t easy to simply recreate it in real time in a real-life situation, she said.

“It was terrifying. If you’ve ever met [Andronis], he’s a very calm and level-headed person. To hear him say to the class, ‘I think I’m having a stroke,’ and struggling and looking nervous, that definitely makes your hairs stand on end,” Shove said.

Shove noticed that a lot of students stayed calm but also had no idea what to do, and stressed the importance in staying educated in how to deal with medical situations. Teachers of certification classes want their students to be comfortable and confident in what they’re doing, she added, and the class is easier than people might think.

“It was definitely scary for me to see him like that, because I see him every day, and you never think that any- thing like that will happen in a class,” Gorman said.

Gorman added that NMU’s services got Andronis help very quickly, and it was helpful that there were nursing professors and staff close by.

“It was also extremely nice that a few members of the class worked together so we could make sure he didn’t get hurt and that he got medical attention,” Gorman said.

Jumping into action quickly is important because things can become much worse in a small amount of time, Gorman said.

Andronis emailed his class- mates after the incident, say- ing he is at home, resting and eager to get back to teaching.

“I’m just glad he’s okay,” Shove said.