Professors Say school making bad choices 08/03/02 By Phillip Giltman Marietta Daily Journal Staff Writer MARIETTA ã Despite his much-publicized resignation last month, Life founder Dr. Sid Williams still has a major say in the school¼s decisions, two faculty members said Friday. „The students are beginning to lose faith in the Board of Trustees, and it all has to do with Sid and his people having their fingers in the pot,¾ said Life professor Dr. Mike Hoefer. Bob Waterson, also a professor at Life, agreed with Hoefer and said he doesn¼t think Life is taking the proper steps to become accredited. „We don¼t see the evidence that they are making the necessary changes to regain accreditation,¾ he said. „There is no doubt Sid is playing a part in the board¼s decisions.¾ Hoefer said he and former vice president of academic affairs Dr. Keith Asplin were taking part in a self-study of Life University in 1999 when the two came across numerous weaknesses and deficiencies in Life¼s programs and administration. „Dr. Williams and the people he worked with did not want us asking questions and talking about the weaknesses at the institution, so he took me and Dr. Asplin off the project,¾ he said. Now, Hoefer says Asplin is just the man to help save the school from its present accreditation crisis, but he said he knows that appointing Asplin would be a slap in the face to Dr. Williams. „The Board of Trustees knows if Asplin is put in, it will cut the ties with Sid,¾ he said. „And they are reluctant to give up that tie with him.¾ When Life picked an interim president last month after Williams¼ resignation, Hoefer and many of the faculty urged the board to appoint Asplin as president. Instead, the university tapped Dr. Michael Schmidt, former Dean of the College at Life Chiropractic College West from 1991 to 2001, as interim president. Asplin was interviewed by the board of trustees, but the panel felt Dr. Schmidt was more qualified for the interim president position, according to Life spokesman Will Hurst. Hoefer said he and Asplin had been working approximately six to eight months on Life¼s self-study, a comprehensive review listing not only the strengths and weaknesses of the institution but also the ways to correct those deficiencies. „When they took us off the self-study, I knew this was the beginning of the downfall of the institution, and I knew we were going to lose our accreditation,¾ he said. „In my opinion, if we had the opportunity to finish the self-study, we wouldn¼t be in the situation we are in right now.¾ In June, Life University was stripped of its accreditation by the Council on Chiropractic Education. The school has filed an intent to appeal and will formally appeal the revocation on Aug. 7. Until the appeals process is exhausted, Life remains accredited. Hoefer said he and Asplin cited numerous weaknesses in the institution, including problems with the administration structure and the institution¼s lack of a functioning research department. „We were conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the program at Life University and they just took us off,¾ he said. „We had the process going, and going well.¾ Waterson said Dr. Williams did not want to hear what Hoefer and Asplin had to say about Life¼s shortcomings. „Sid did not like what they were saying,¾ he said. „It was like he was right and they were wrong.¾ Now, several students are saying they want Asplin back as well. „He is aware of the academic deficiencies at the school,¾ said Pete Scire, a student and outspoken critic of Life University. „He is the man for the job because he has extensive knowledge of accreditation issues.¾ Both Scire and Hoefer said Asplin could easily assume operations and immediately help the school regain its accreditation, if only the Board of Trustees would listen. „They are ignoring us,¾ Scire said. „They have not made any statements toward our recommendation of bringing Asplin back.¾ Hoefer said he asked Board of Trustees chairman Dr. Chuck Ribley why the board wasn¼t supporting Asplin, despite the students and staff¼s support of him. „(Ribley) said Asplin was part of the administration responsible for the school losing its accreditation in the first place,¾ Hoefer said. Waterson said Dr. Williams is working to prevent Asplin from being selected as a permanent president. The board of trustees will appoint a committee of students, faculty and board members by Friday to select a permanent president, according to Hurst. Ribley was not available for comment Friday evening. „I think the faculty sees the Board of Trustees as being either uninformed or indecisive,¾ Waterson said. „I believe the Williams¼ opposition to Asplin is the reason why the board is ignoring our recommendation to bring Asplin back.¾ pgiltman@mdjonline.com