Life at Life University isn't what it used to be since the Commission on Accreditation of the Council on Chiropractic Education denied reaffirmation of the school's accreditation on June 10, 2002.1 Since that time, the university has announced its intent to appeal the COA's decision, Dr. Sid Williams, the founder and president, has stepped down,2 and the Life University Board of Trustees has appointed Dr. Michael Schmidt interim president.3 Essentially, Dr. Schmidt and the trustees are fighting for the "life of Life".
Dr. Schmidt's first major administrative decision came as no surprise: to recommend to the Life Board of Trustees to drop the school's athletic program: basketball and track; soccer and rugby - and yes, ice hockey. The trustees approved the recommendation July 23.
"The budget needs to be cut," Dr. James Sigafoose told the Atlanta Journal Constitution. "We're more interested in chiropractic than we are in sports or Christmas lights," referring to the school's annual Christmas display, which reportedly costs $350,000.
Clearly, Dr. Williams, a member of the Georgia Tech football team that won the 1951 Orange Bowl, took great pride over the years in building a highly competitive intercollegiate sports program. In 1997, a banner year for Life athletics, the university won national titles in basketball, ice hockey and track.4
Dr. Williams told the Constitution he was disappointed by what he deemed "such drastic steps." He called the decision "shortsighted," stating that those in charge now "don't realize the significance of these programs."
Some of the trustees, no doubt, had reservations about dealing a death blow to Dr. Williams' creation, but felt that the loss of revenue from declining enrollments warranted axing the $1.8 million tab that comes with competing in intercollegiate team sports.
Another possible cost-saving cut may be closing one of the university's three chiropractic clinics.
References
When sports chiropractors first appeared at the Olympic Games in the 1980s, it was alongside individual athletes who had experienced the benefits of chiropractic care in their training and recovery processes at home. Fast forward to Paris 2024, where chiropractic care was available in the polyclinic for all athletes, and the attitude has now evolved to recognize that “every athlete deserves access to sports chiropractic."
It is estimated that 61% of patients with CTS avoid taking surgical options due to postoperative complications and costly surgical procedures. Chiropractic care offers a comprehensive and effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, addressing the condition from multiple angles. Recent studies also have unveiled a game-changing adjunct to chiropractic treatments for CTS: nerve flossing.
Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
