Founder sees divide in chiropractic ed 
 
10/24/02
By Phillip Giltman
Marietta Daily Journal Staff Writer
MARIETTA ã Founder and former president Dr. Sid Williams said 
Wednesday that the loss of Life¼s chiropractic accreditation reveals 
a message to the world of chiropractic education that there can be 
only one approach to teaching chiropractic.
„The flexibility and tolerance that the (Council on Chiropractic 
Education) is supposed to display to differing philosophies has died 
under their drive to eliminate those principles with which they do 
not agree,¾ Williams said.
Williams said he thinks the CCE¼s decision to revoke Life¼s 
chiropractic accreditation is a small step in trying to move the 
chiropractic profession into the larger realm of medicine.
„The argument will go forward that in order to serve the public, 
doctors of chiropractic must have a broader, more medical education 
so that they can offer themselves as primary care physicians,¾ he 
said. „That¼s a medical doctor, not a chiropractor.¾
Williams said he doesn¼t think the CCE¼s efforts will stop with Life 
University.
„I want to express my very grave fear that the CCE¼s efforts to 
shape chiropractic education in their limited direction will not end 
with Life,¾ he said. „Honesty, objectivity and above all, an 
understanding of what chiropractic is, and it is not the practice of 
medicine, is the only way out of the danger zone.¾
He said that even though Life, once the largest chiropractic school in 
the world, has lost its chiropractic accreditation, it is the students 
who will endure the greatest loss.
„The elimination of the opportunity to receive an education 
anchored in the unique values and philosophy of chiropractic at Life 
will close an important frontier in health care,¾ he said. „They will 
not be able to follow in the footsteps of the nearly 12,000 doctors 
of chiropractic who have already gone forward throughout the world 
as Life graduates to practice the powerful healing methods unique 
to chiropractic.¾
Williams said he will continue to stay involved in this nationwide 
debate and intends to monitor and „regulate the activities or 
organizations like the CCE.¾
Life University lost its chiropractic accreditation June 10, forcing the 
administration to make executive changes, including the resignation 
of Williams and his family.
A graduate of Palmer Chiropractic College in Davenport, Iowa, 
Williams, a Rome native, founded the school in 1974 as Life College.
pgiltman@mdjonline.com