This e-mail is a reply to the many request to assist Life U. From: Joel E. Margolies, DC .. 6-14-02 Please except this with the understanding that I feel for the students and Life U. Although this may rub folks the wrong way, these are trying times and battles can only be fought when the soldiers are there to fight. We need more dedicated and principled chiropractors not less. Although, we in the field have a license in which to express our opinions and generate a community following, the students do not. A lot must be done. A recent letter from Palmer attests to the understanding that the possibility of a Life without Life is real. No hand wringing or letter writing campaign will sway the CCE for this present moment. No appeal to the hearts and minds of the media or legislators will shape a new beginning for the CCE. What must be done is radical and extreme for us, but we have to be in the game to make any changes. Besides that, as each student transfers or doesn廠 attend, less income is generated by Life now and in the immediate future. Life cannot sustain this bleeding for long. I keep my e-mail newsletters apolitical so that heavy mixers and straights of all shades can get something out of it. My most recent e-mail concerning Life U. was as apolitical as I can make it, while attempting to make my position clear. If you wish to read my most recent e-mail newsletter concerning Life, visit my webpage: www.chirosmart.net and look within Previous E- mails and under Life U. I've been through this before. I first went to Sherman in 1975 and left after six quarters when they wouldn't consider applying for CCE accreditation (it just began as an accrediting agency). I dreaded the move and felt as if I betrayed the Philosophy, since Life was considered by us Reggie Raiders as not even philosophical enough. But, I transferred to Life as Dr. Sid promised they would do what it took to get accreditation, and they did. I took the Florida boards with my Sherman classmates who sued the Fl board to sit the test. While I did not study at all, the previous board test was a formality if you already had a license, I did in Ga, but my Sherman classmates knew more about diagnosis and blood tests that even a medical student .. go figure! (Maybe they did what needed to be done to get a license and Sherman supplied the knowledge) Although Dr. Sid and the administration may signal they did everything right, they obviously didn't. For sure they didn't do what it took to keep their accreditation. I doubt it they thought it would come to this. No doubt we all figured that the largest school would be immune from abuse and by sheer numbers the CCE would bend. Well, guess what. Yes it is very political and reaches to the very core of the subluxation and our approach to health care, but the battles should be fought in the trenches not in the schools. You can graduate from National and become the straightest DC, while a Life graduate attending every DE could turn up the electricity and mix like crazy. Get a license and a strong foundation and all else will follow. Life students are now requesting we do something, like write an appeal to our congressmen and women. This must be done by the Life students and the ICA and WCA administrators who must question the power of the CCE, and the seeping trend that will follow other philosophical schools. Not, but philosophical DC廣 nationwide. This may be in order at a later date. Yes it is very political but also very personal. Dr. Sid is Dr. Sid, that's all I have to say. If ego and nepotism get in the way, hundreds of students and their families, not to mention the thousands of patients yet to be adjusted will be affected. Dr. Sid should also see the writing on the wall, agree he had a wonderful and profitable run and do the right thing. It is his baby, I just hope he doesn't throw it out with the bath water. I understand he will be stepping down (I elect Gerry Clum to replace him), but if his daughter Kim or any person involved in the William廣 family replaces Dr. Sid as President, it will be more of the same. I have great respect for the vision and dedication of Dr. Sid and all that he has created. He envisioned a University way back in 1978 when I graduated, and made it happen. Along the way, he created a sports mecca with an instantaneous winning team. Do you think it was because the players got a djusted or because they gave liberal scholarships and hired (paid for) the best coaches and built a beautiful gym, but at what cost? Is their a stream of revenue from these projects, vendors or television paying the school for the sports rights. Various external programs taking the school廣 logo worldwide, also was financially heavy, and took energy away from Dr. Sid and the important chiropractic program. Considering the many buildings and the multitude of programs, not to mention the undergraduate school and the time and money to create and sustain it, and the coulda/woulda of a greater and chiropractically richer Life with chiropracTIC research programs and a living philosophical proving ground may have been a grander vision. Today, what do I recommend we do? I encourage the students to remain at Life and help Dr. Sid and his administration do what it takes to get their accreditation in order, even if it means diluting some tenets of chiropractic for the sake of staying alive. If the philosophy is strong and the concepts that bring Life to Life is ever present, the mix of diagnosis will find its place as a means to an end. Fighting and bucking the system at this stage of the game will bring the house down and only the principle loses. I was at the Thursday meeting between Dr. Sid and the students and heard his strong and committed followers say what had to be said and raise the spirits of the troops and express the Spizzerentum that we hold dear. But one student yelled from the bleachers, he was hardly heard but it was clear to me .. "we first need a license doc" This is the crux of the issue, philosophy and purpose only exists with the means to make it happen .. the license .. the institution .. the spirit. If Life is drained of life, for the purpose of sustaining a principle, no matter how grand, at this stage of the game would be wrong. As far as what to do with CCE .. well that廣 a different story. There has never been an ICA oriented representative in the CCE. All National oriented schools were instantly accredited while Palmer and others of like mind, had to prove themselves. They did, little by little, as did Life. To make the changes at CCE, we must investigate how a diverse philosophical profession, such as Chiropractic, has only one voice that accredits the schools. Now Life, next Palmer, then Cleveland, Life West and Sherman. One by one they will either adapt to the CCE or die. If you feel this isn廠 right then call for an investigation but now, swallow your pride, tuck your ego away, lay your battling swords in the closet and do what has to done to keep Life alive and the doors open. The philosophy of Life and Health is practical when applied with an adjustment. It makes for a better day, a new beginning. I am blessed with a license from Life, it will be a shame if this tradition cannot be carried on. Have a Great Day Dr. M PS .. for whatever it is worth, this is my solution. Dr. Sid steps down, all the William廣 family steps down, the board is recalled and fresh faces of principled chiropractors are added. The school infrastructure should be downsized. The undergraduate and sports division should be sold and the new owners pay rent to Life. If this is not practical assess to financial bleeding from these divisions and make the appropriate decisions. Concentrate of the chiropractic school. Develop a stronger research and technical development division and hire dedicated and talented instructors. With every diagnostic program added be prepared to discuss the purpose and foundation of chiropractic. We are into Health and Wellness, as it stands today, there is much Sickness in the profession. Having less graduates from Life only aggravates the condition more. These are my thots. Have a Great Day Dr. M If you have never received my e-mail newsletters, please request to subscribe. If this e-mail has offended you and you wish to be deleted, just ask to be deleted. Either way, I will keep Adjusting for the Health of It!