[ The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: 6/13/02 ]
'Easy target' or to blame? Life founder Sid Williams
is at center of Life accreditation storm 
By MARY MacDONALD 
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer 
Life University leaders have failed to establish and maintain a proper 
environment for education or employment, according to the agency that has 
yanked accreditation from its chiropractic program.
Andy Sharp / AJC Life University administrator Kim Williams said the school did everything it 
could do to meet standards. 


The brief statement by the Council on Chiropractic Education, in a letter 
explaining why it revoked the accreditation, feeds mounting speculation, both 
on- and off-campus, that President Sid Williams is the reason. Further, that his 
resignation -- or at least a major turnabout in philosophy -- might be all that 
saves Life University, say graduates, former faculty and some students.
"What the conflict is about is the accrediting body doesn't think anything will 
change [under him]," said Paul Lapides, a former faculty member.
Even some students and administrators who support Williams, calling him a 
charismatic leader of original chiropractic theory, believe the loss of 
accreditation is at least in part, politically motivated. 
"There's lots of components," said student Scott Evans. "But a big component 
is to get him off the throne."
Like many students, Stacey Goodson said Wednesday the accreditation 
problem is political -- that as "straight" chiropractic's most visible proponent, 
Williams was an easy target. "You always target the loudest person," Goodson 
said. "What he's built is huge."
The university follows the "straight" philosophy of chiropractic, the idea that the 
body has an inherent ability to heal itself once spinal "subluxations," or 
interferences, are corrected.
Life is not the only chiropractic school that adheres to the traditional approach. 
Palmer College of Chiropractic, in Davenport, Iowa, also does. Life students on 
Wednesday said that college had sent recruiters to Marietta. 
Critics of Williams say he and his administration, not politics, are to blame for 
the lost accreditation. The university failed to act on the accreditation concerns 
in a timely or effective manner, said students who began circulating petitions 
Wednesday that demand the resignation of Williams.
The petition targets Williams and a host of top-level administrators, including 
the dean of academic affairs and the dean of the chiropractic school.
Students leading the effort say they hope to get 1,000 signatures, about half the 
program enrollment. The petition chastises university leaders for 
demonstrating "controlling and destructive" behavior that has been ineffectual 
at addressing the challenges facing the chiropractic program." The board of 
trustees, which meets Friday, may not respond, the students acknowledged.
About 400 students packed into an auditorium Wednesday evening to discuss 
ways they could help the school regain its accreditation. Some students -- in an 
often chaotic debate -- suggested soliciting help from elected officials in 
Washington, while a few openly called for Williams' resignation. Others 
defended the university and aimed their anger at the accrediting agency.
The Council on Chiropractic Education announced Monday it had revoked the 
accreditation of the chiropractic program. Accreditation will continue through an 
appeal, which university leaders announced Wednesday they would pursue. 
"We did everything they asked us to do," said Kim Williams, an administrator 
and daughter of the founder. "Everything they asked us to do, we followed to the 
letter."
Sid Williams did not respond to a request for an interview. The executive 
director of the Council on Chiropractic Education could not be reached for 
comment.
Although the accrediting agency cited four deficiencies in its revocation, 
including the stability and number of staff in the clinical sciences, many 
observers believe the loss of accreditation is rooted in Williams' philosophy.
Chiropractors believe that good health is the result of uninterrupted nerve 
function, and concern themselves with adjusting the spine to remove 
"subluxations." They do not, and legally cannot, prescribe drugs or perform 
surgery.
But many chiropractors say the practice has moved much closer to the medical 
mainstream than Williams has supported. Those say that chiropractors are 
expected to act as primary care providers, knowing how to diagnose symptoms 
to be able to refer patients to medical doctors if necessary.
Accreditation standards speak to these requirements. A site team from the 
accrediting agency visited the university in April, and its report cited the 
university's reliance in diagnosis on spinal subluxations.
Its conclusion cited the good will of the administration in making changes: "The 
administrative leadership must encourage and empower those people that 
have the knowledge, experience and professional skills necessary to move the 
institution into harmony with the standards."
Life simply hasn't kept pace, and it will not under Williams, said John Dull, a 
chiropractor who is the Georgia delegate to the American Chiropractic 
Association.
"It's all with the philosophy," he said. "In his heart of hearts, he doesn't believe a 
chiropractor should be diagnosing anything. But the profession is way beyond 
that. It all boils down to Dr. Williams not wanting to teach what the CCE wants 
chiropractors to know."
Staff writer Michael Kolber contributed to this article.