ACA President Speaks at Life University Amidst Protesters

by: DrTirpak posted: November 27, 2012

Thursday November 15^th marked an interesting day on the campus of Life University and it just may be an historical day for the Chiropractic profession.  The guest speaker for the student assembly was Dr. Keith Overland President of the ACA.

Why is this possibly historic? For Chiropractors educated at institutions outside of Life or a principled chiropractic college having the speaker of the American Chiropractic Association is unheard of. Dr. Overland has spoken at many Chiropractic Colleges. In October he made a presentation at National University of Health Sciences, but never Life. According to the ACA Dr. Keith Overland was the first American Chiropractic Association President to publicly speak at Life University.

Ask a Chiropractor that graduated from Life about going to assemblies and they will recollect a memorable story. The entire campus comes together throughout each semester for these assemblies. As part of the Doctorate of Chiropractic educational curriculum these attendance required gatherings date back to the beginning of Life and the founder Dr. Sid Williams. Legendary Principled Chiropractors Reggie Gold and Fred Barge have previously graced the Life assembly stage motivating and inspiring the future of chiropractic, but never arousing this much attention.

Campus was a buzz for a week before the assembly according to students at Life. The University even sent an email to students from President Dr. Guy Riekeman personally reminding them to be "respectful and open to discussion".  Philosophy Club and student ICA members started a public discussion on Facebook, calling for a protest before the assembly.

According to campus reports around 40 students held signs and were adorned with t-shirts pronouncing their ’straight values’. Signs included: Remove subluxation from people not Chiropractic, Drugs and Surgery are not the Future, Keep Chiropractic in our Hands. Walking past the crowd before entering the assembly the ACA President conversed with the protesters professing his commitment to the Chiropractic profession.

Dr. Overland’s lecture covered numerous topics from healthcare reform to the personal discrimination he has faced as a Doctor of Chiropractic. He also mentioned the recent Chiro Summit meeting, discriminatory language of the Family and Medical Leave Act, chiropractic in the VA hospitals and the future of the Chiropractic profession. The American Chiropractic Association President concluded his speech with a quote by hockey great Wayne Gretzky "Skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been."

Following the lecture a five students were chosen by the administration to ask a few questions of Dr. Overland. Most of the questions asked pertained to the ACA’s stance on chiropractors acquiring prescribing rights and American Chiropractic Associatin’s support of the changes with the CCE (Council for Chiropractic Education). He stated that the ACA fully supports the CCE considering there role as the federally approved agency that accredits chiropractic education, even though they might disagree on certain issues.  He also maintains the ACA  has a drug-free position.

Rumbling on campus after the assembly rang even loader, louder than Sid’s key hitting the floor. (Inside joke to Life Grads). Life University the following day posted on Facebook:

ChiropracTIC looks like a cap locks problem to some, but for many DCs it symbolizes a philosophy and mentality very different from the principles of the American Chiropractic Association. Life University founded in the 1970 by Chiropractor Sid Williams boasts a vitalistic mission rooted in the original teachings of DD & BJ Palmer.

One assembly at one Chiropractic University has caused a stir within the profession and a rare glimpse of divergent viewpoints coming together to expand the education of future Chiropractors. In the lecture Dr. Keith Overland, DC poignantly said "Our profession is too small to remain divided, and that in fact there is high agreement on about 95 percent of issues confronting us.”

CE Cruncher strives to remain neutral in the politics of Chiropractic, serving the profession as a resource for Chiropractic Continuing Education, news and information. We strive to communicate both sides of issues impacting all Chiropractors from an unbiased viewpoint. Let us know what you think in the comments, but please remain respectful.

Special thanks to future Chiropractors Gabriel Busquets and Mike Moratto for their help with this story.

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