Socrates Cafe – Kelly Milano, DC Student

A Year Later

On January 11, 2010 Socrates Café officially opened for business. For those who have been around for a while and remember the old café with its greasy food, and its dingy, outdated interior, the new café came as a very welcomed campus addition. It gave students a well-lit, updated atmosphere with better food options and much more space. A year later, the café is thriving. Quite often throughout the day it is hard to find a spot to sit as the entire café is full. The patio has become a place where drum circles entertain on sunny days. The evenings are a perfect place to study, with the sounds of the water and the glow of the firepit light the night.

The 28,000 square feet of open space with indoor and outdoor seating, now employs 12 staff members plus some temporary help for the bigger events or for when people are on vacation. Run by Bon Appetit, whose company logo is “Food Services for a Sustainable Future,” the café boasts quality foods created from scratch as much as possible. According to their website, “Bon Appetite Management Company has become a model for what is possible in sustainable food service.” They were the first food service company to address the issues related to where and how the food is grown. In January, Bon Appetit reached its goal of contracting 1,000 ‘farm to fork’ farmers, a company initiative to buy locally.

Another aspect of Bon Appetit, Socrates Café and Life Univeristy is their commitment to recycling. Ron Williams, Assistant to the Executive Chef, is an avid recycler. He states that he first began recycling in 1994 in the workplace and it quickly became something he loves. Not only does he oversee the recycling done by the café, he also is actively involved in the recycling around campus. According to Williams, the school boasts a Somat machine in the café that recycles most of the material thrown into the garbage cans. (www.somatcompany.com) He states that the machine is able to mulch the plates, boxes, papers and leftover food into a useable mulch that is used throughout campus in the plants and trees. The garbage in the cans is sorted through and separated out daily, pushed down a conveyor type belt and into the machine where it is rotated at a high heat overnight. The heat dries out the materials and breaks them down into a sandy type composition that is put into the plants around campus. The Somat machine is able to decrease the waste produced by 50%, saving not only money, (up to $800 a month from the recycling companies alone,) but also to help do Life’s share in conserving energy and the environment. The machine is NOT currently able to process the cups and silverware used on campus, as it tends to jam the machine so to best recycle these items, put them in the blue recycling bins located near the garbage cans. There are also 35 new containers around campus for recycling of aluminum and plastic.

One issue that students have had with Socrates is that it closes down to convert the menu from breakfast to lunch. According to Williams, this time is necessary due to the very limited space within the café. He states, “Every corner of the restaurant is breakfast and lunch. Every corner is turned out and turned over.” All of the oatmeal containers are switched out for soups. The fruit bar is completely turned over to salads. The danish and muffins need to be fully switched to deli and grill items. Every square inch needs to be replaced. Bon Appetit determined that the best way to handle the transition is for a shut down during a not busy time, to help avoid risk and accidents and to make the transition as smooth as possible. During that time, Plato to Go is open for drinks, coffee and quick pick up foods. The prices in Plato have come down, with the grab & go sandwiches now being $.60 cheaper than before.

The café is currently open from 6:30am-9:30AM and 10:30AM-3:00PM Monday – Friday, with the seating area open until Midnight as well as noon-midnight on the weekend.  Plato to Go is open 9:00 AM-1PM and 3-6PM Monday-Friday.

For more information on Bon Appetit and their commitment to sustainability, visit www.bamco.com  Have a comment about this article? Come visit us on Facebook!

LifeSource – Jenn Roberts, DC Student

Octagon

During the weekend of April 15th, LifeSource 2011 sponsored the Octagon event on Life’s campus. Attended by DC’s, CA’s, spouses, biochemists, functional neurologists and, unfortunately, very few students, the Octagon brought together experts in their field to pose their own definitions of subluxation and how to measure success in treatment of that subluxation.

Dr. Riekeman started the conference Thursday afternoon, after the Lyceum Park opening on campus by discussing the term subluxation, focusing specifically on nerve interference, including mechanical dysfunction, environmental toxins and thoughts & stressors. Dr. Riekeman also drew our attention to the fact that the Octagon is a dynamic, ongoing forum for thought and discussion to benefit understanding of chiropractic both externally and internally of our profession.

Dr. Triano discussed that while Vitalism asks ‘why,’ Reductionism asks ‘how;’ how the Vital Force is equal to the human soul. He stated that the goal of any DC should be to intervene both productively and predictably with the subluxation. He also pointed out that while the flutter of a butterfly wing can indeed cause a hurricane half a world away, we do not yet know which flutter set off the storm.

Drs. Haavik-Taylor and Goertz discussed research and statistics around subluxation and chiropractic and results experienced by patients and how that translated into statistical data. Dr. Goertz talked about what matters most to patients and the difference between somatic dysfunction and subluxation while Dr. Koch mentioned how ‘intelligence exists without scientific hypothesis,’ however the nervous system ‘is scientifically appraisable.’

Dr. Lipton spoke to the attendees about how the more energetically connected we are, the more we care… and that entanglement is equal to a change in the recipient. He also stated, “In order to be the master of your science, you have to DO your science.”

An attendee brought about an interesting question as to are we ‘mechanistic back crackers or are we Wholism, Holistic. The answer was that yes, we are more than just biomechanics. We need to bring the theory of subluxation into the classroom. We need a mutual starting point for the discussion.

A lot of chiropractors in practice focus on pain and whiplash, being a focus of many, received some attention at Octagon. Dr Damadian discussed Chiari Syndrome and Cerebellar Tonsillar Ectopia as well as the amazing results experienced by patients once they had their atlas adjusted. Patients experienced a reduction in headaches from occlusion of CSF movement and arterial flow to the brain, nausea and vomiting, pain and numbness and black outs among others. Dr. Damadian, inventor of the MR Scanner, (more commonly known as MRI,) demonstrated how results are different in MR pictures depending on whether the patient is recumbent or sitting/standing; the more evident injuries were visible in a standing/sitting scan.

Dr. Carrick spoke about the relationship between science and philosophy and how once you answer a philosophical question it becomes science; the theory of Science = True & False while Philosophy = Sense & Nonsense and about errant a priori concepts upon which conceptual questions can be developed.

We discussed politics and its relation to improving or impinging patient care and comparative effectiveness and that the ‘absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence’.

Another point mentioned by staff at the Octagon was how few students were repeat visitors every day – only three signed in and out on the registration sheet. Fellow students remarked Saturday evening at a gathering I attended how they didn’t know it was happening. As students of chiropractic it is our duty to learn, be focused and pay attention. Ignorance is no longer a viable excuse for missing data and details. The Octagon was published on the front page of the Vital Source newspaper, on all of the televisions in the cafe as well as communicated several times by student email. And while I know there were a lot of events during the same weekend, DE, a BGI (biogeometric integration) seminar, a Pierce Results seminar, the Gonstead Extravaganza and a few others, many of us were still on campus.

And while attendance of the conference excused us from class, I know whole-heartedly we are still responsible for the material, but to some that acted as an excuse for not attending any of the forum. To that I say, what about Thursday night and Saturday? Or when classes ended for the day Friday. The more we attend, understand and breathe in about philosophy, the physical attributes in technique as well as the biggest concept, subluxation, the better DC’s we will be when in practice with our own patient base, or the better our research will be, should we follow that tract.

The Octagon is an ongoing event we were fortunate to host this time on our campus. Hopefully it will be back on our campus for the next session

Factoids: Did you know…

• 45-50% of people experience whiplash symptoms 17 years after of the injury

• A ten mile car cash is equal to catching a 200lb bag of cement dropped from a second story bldg.

• 4-30% of neck injuries are missed by other practitioners, which leads to permanent ‘neurologic sequela’.

Faculty for the Contemporary Scientific Paradigm that is Octagon:

Dr. Bruce Lipton, PhD, Conference Chair.

Dr. Gerry Clum, DC, Conference Host

Dr. Fred Carrick, DC PhD

Dr. Ray Damadian, MD

Dr. Joe Dispenza, DC

Dr. Christine Goertz, DC PhD

Dr. Heidi Haavik-Taylor, DC PhD

Dr. David Koch, DC

Dr. Scott Rosa, DC

Dr. Peggy Samples, PhD

Dr. Rob Scott, DC PhD

Dr. Jay Triano, DC PhD

Liquid Rootz – Kelly Milano, DC Student

Band Review

If you’ve ever been at Joels Tavern and been lucky enough to hear Liquid Rootz, you know what a great band this is! The band was formed in the summer of 2009 and has grown into a unique combination of contemporary music with an island twist. Another thing that separates this band from other bands on campus is that it represents virtually every program of study that Life University has to offer. The original members, Tui Osborne (Exercise Science), Benny Mateialona (Business) and Colton Cariaga (Business) have added Arthur Driver (Business) and Marc Chianese (graduating from the DC program this quarter.)  While the group has created 12 original songs and is in the process of recording their first album, they also do a lot of cover music at their shows.  Tui states, “Most of our inspiration comes from just being together a lot, hanging out in my man cave garage, having a few brews while listening to great artists on the radio and just enjoying each other’s company.”  Lead Vocalist, Tui, believes that, “we stand out because of what each person brings to the table music-wise in terms of cultural backgrounds; I grew up around reggae, Arthur and Ben grew up around rap/hip-hop and Marc and Colton listened to more contemporary stuff and rock, so we try to have a touch of each genre in our songs.” Each member brings their own unique flare to the group, and when meshed together, the sound is Liquid Rootz! Make sure to check them out at any of their local venues – Joel’s Tavern, Red Sky Tappas, Party Chic, The Vineyard Winemarket and V2 Room and be sure to find them on Facebook at Liquid-Rootz.

Toxic Soap On Campus – Carley Edwards, DC Student

Do you know what’s lurking in the soap dispensers?

Everyone knows that washing your hands is the best way to prevent the spread of germs, but what if you’re washing your hands with toxic chemicals? The soap dispensers on Life’s campus are filled with several cancer-causing, allergy producing chemicals. Just open up the dispenser and see for yourself. The bright pink container labeled KimCare contains ingredients such as Propylene Glycol, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Disodium EDTA, PEG-7, Fragrance, and Red 33.

Propylene Glycol (PG) is found in antifreeze, airplane de-icers, paints, enamels, engine coolants, and more. It is also found in food, medicine and cosmetics. The Material Safety Datasheet cites that PG has been related to skin, liver and kidney damage. According to The Environmental Working Groups website, Skin Deep, PG correlates with cancer, allergies, reproductive toxicity and neurotoxicity. Some claim that PG is safe in small doses, but how many chemicals do we come into contact with daily? Skin Deep declares that women use an average of 12 personal care products daily containing 168 different ingredients and men use an average of six products with 85 different ingredients.

Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS) is an inexpensive foaming agent found in several personal care products. SLS causes skin and eye irritation in human studies. This irritant increases with concentration. Even worse, SLS is contaminated with 1,4-dioxane. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies 1,4-dioxane as a carcinogen and irritant. This chemical is classified in the state of California to cause cancer. Even the FDA has urged this chemical be removed from products, yet it remains due to the fact that there is no actual law banning the chemical. Canada and the European Union have taken initiative and had this chemical banned or restricted for use. The EPA has 1,4-dioxane listed as a hazardous air pollutant under the Clean Air Act. Skin Deep lists 1,4-dioxane as a known carcinogen related to organ toxicity. It is also an immunotoxin, reproductive toxin, allergen and occupational hazard. SLS is listed as the second ingredient on the soap being dispensed in all of the bathrooms on campus. SLS is not the only ingredient in the soap that is contaminated with 1,4-dioxane. PEG -7 is as well. PEG’s are not safe for injured or damaged skin. Do you ever wash your skin with cuts on your hands?

Disodium EDTA is a neurotoxin linked to cancer and organ system toxicity. It is cytotoxic and genotoxic. EDTA is considered a persistent organic pollutant (POP) that has been used as a pesticide, has a detrimental impact on human health and the environment, and has the ability to accumulate in human tissue. POP’s have been linked to breast cancer, neurobehavioral disorders and even diabetes and death. Those who are obese tested with high levels of POP’s. EDTA may be listed under several other names including acetic acid and most things beginning with ‘disodium.’

Red 33 is a synthetic dye made from petroleum or coal-tar sources. Red 33 has also been tested positive for mutation. The FDA prohibits the use of Red 33 around the eyes. Do you wash your face in the sinks at school? How about while at the gym?

Fragrance seems like an innocent ingredient but it is really just a mask disguising an ugly chemical: phthalates. The health effects of phthalate are endless and are found in plastics, adhesives, glues, personal care products, children’s toys, paints, and pharmaceutical drugs. Children are even more vulnerable to phthalates than adults. Studies have been done linking children with allergies to those with large amounts of phthalates in the home. There may even be a link between phthalates and autism. Phthalates lead to precocious puberty in females and are endocrine disruptors that can cause birth defects. When fed to rodents, phthalates caused liver and testicular damage. The Journal of Pediatrics found that low birth weight babies are related to exposure to phthalates. Some research has even been done on the correlation between phthalates and ADHD. Former President George Bush signed The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act restricting the use of phthalates above a certain level in children’s toys.

The same soap that is being used all over campus is also being used at Bright Life, the daycare center on campus. In addition to the soap dispensers, there are hand soap dispensers from Wal-Mart containing yellow 5. Yellow 5 is banned in Norway, and was banned in Austria, and Germany. The UK called for a voluntary phase out of the chemical a few years ago due to its link with hyperactivity in children. Since 1985 The American Academy of Pediatrics stated that the side effects of Yellow 5 include allergies, tumors, and asthma.

Something else to be aware of is that Propylene glycol, SLS, PEG-7, and EDTA are all skin penetrators, meaning that they actually help other chemicals penetrate deeper into the skin.

I posted a comment on Life’s Facebook page asking about whether a particular ingredient was used in the soaps on campus and this was the response I received: “Hi Carley, although the soap on campus contains some questionable ingredients, triclosan is not one of them. Our soap provider appears to offer a Green Seal certified product that we will explore using.” Obviously the ingredients used in the soap dispensers on campus are not ‘questionable.’ They are toxic and carcinogenic and lead to long-term health problems. If there are safer alternatives available, why isn’t Life using them? It may be more costly, but what is the price on our health and that of the environment? When will change be integrated to make Life a greener campus? Until then, I will continue to bring my own soap into the bathroom.

The 5th Annual All-Star Event Makes An Impact – Jenn Roberts, DC Student

On Saturday, February 26, Innate Enterprise, in conjunction with the SICA, hosted the 5^th Annual All-Star Event at Life University. This annual event was held in the Socrates Cafe and was attended by students from both Life University and Sherman College of Chiropractic. Doctors of ChiropracTIC spoke to the group of students as mentors to each of us. The panel included Dr. Susan Brown, creator and developer of Bio-Geometric Integration (BGI), Dr. Jim Dubel, founder of New Beginnings, Life Universities own Dr. Drew Rubin, Dr. Cirone, Dr. Clarino, Dr. Liam Schubel and Dr. Austin Cohen, graduates of Life University.

As a first quarter DC student who had never before attended the All-Star Event, I didn’t quite know what to expect. What I got was more than I bargained for. I was utterly amazed by what I experienced, listened to and learned. Not only were there recurring themes of philosophy, faith, an innate intelligence, and following your calling, but truly deep and touching recollections were shared by each of the DC’s who spoke and they spoke with incredibly passionate conviction. Each of them shared with us what ‘success’ means to them on such an emotional level, it was like they spoke to us all on a one-to-one basis in private discussion. They also not only recalled how they have impacted their patients’ lives, but how their patients have impacted them.

As Dr. Dubel asked, “What happens when you cut your finger? It heals… from the inside out.” That is innate intelligence. Bringing the body around to its homeostatic state. A power we all possess but a power we don’t all unleash in ourselves to its greatest potential.

Drs. Cirone and Clarino struggled with getting their own practice off the ground until they changed their thought processes, abandoning the educated mind for their own philosophy. Instead of bringing their practice into their faith, they brought faith into their practice. By sharing the wondrous capabilities of the human body with their patients, and how they were helping to facilitate their return to their own innate function, their patients experienced more. More than the pain relief that may have led them to their door. More than treatment of a symptom or a syndrome. While they may have made their initial appointment for those very reasons, they returned to their office for others.

Drs. Liam Schubel and Austin Cohen talked about the expansion of the ChiropracTIC philosophy. From offices in Atlanta and the Northeast, to practices around the world, ChiropracTIC is impacting the lives of people who have not only never had access to allopathic healthcare, many had never heard of ChiropracTIC until they were face down on an adjusting table in an office, a homeless shelter, a patch of grass near a rainforest in South America.

While the world needs exposure to what we do, our calling, we, as students need exposure to the world. We are only in the Life University bubble for a short time, like an egg in a nest. But when we graduate, we are kicked out of that nest by the Momma bird and we have no choice but to fly or fall hard. While our classes teach us the academics, we must embrace the challenge to experience and be taught the practical lessons ourselves, by volunteering at a local ChiropracTIC office, becoming involved in outreach/mission trips abroad, by doing PEAK somewhere other than our own back yard.

The world is a very big place and while some of us have seen a lot of it, it changes all the time. Views and opinions are changing and many people are now eager for other options related to health care. At assembly last week, even Dr. Manns talked about how the corporations and even the very government of Ghana have embraced his mission of ChiropracTIC as a natural, critical way to improve one’s body function proactively.

Each of the presenters at the All-Star Event shared miracles with us. Dr. Rubin shared the story of Peggy and her family with us and watching Dr. Rubins eyes tear up absolutely wrenched my heart. It was a beautiful story of how ChiropracTIC not only helped Peggy rebound amazingly from the cancer she had been in treatment for with radiation and rounds of chemotherapy, but it gave her time, three additional years of time with her most valuable asset, her family. When she knew her time was short, she called Dr. Rubin to her home and asked him to adjust her so she could be more clear of mind and heart, and could spend her last three days of life with her family at home. Dr. Rubin gave her that gentle, final adjustment and on the night of the third day Peggy spent with her children, their spouses, their children and their children’s children, Peggy died in her sleep.

ChiropracTIC is not about the money. It is not about treating pain. It is not about the number of patients you ‘have to see’ in order to have a ‘good’ practice. If you practice for the right reasons, with faith and passion to help others, the rest will follow. ChiropracTIC is about the difference you make in others lives by empowering them and liberating the innate intelligence within to allow the body to function at its own maximum potential, do its own healing, to perform better.

And ChiropracTIC care is indeed for everyone. From adjusting a pregnant mother-to-be to giving her newborn baby his/her first adjustment after birth. From adjusting the young child through his/her adulthood, and then caring for that patient until they pass from this earth.

We are a small but growing group. We are meant to do this. We have been picked by the very innate intelligence we restore the connection to in the patients we care for. We are ChiropracTIC

Making Scents Of It – Kelly Milano, DC Student

Becoming a scent-free campus?

Recently a discussion came up on Life’s Facebook page, asking students, faculty and other ‘friends’ of LIFE if the University should adopt a ‘scent-free’ policy. What this would mean is that all scented oils, lotions, perfumes and colognes would be banned from campus.  From time to time this topic raises its head and demands attention, creating a fine balancing act between individual student rights and the rights of the community as a whole.  Many students feel it is their right to wear whatever fragrances they want, while others feel it is their right to not have to breathe the scented air. This same argument could go the other way, as well, with others that would rather a student smell of overwhelming perfume and flowers than smell like BO because of going the more ‘natural’ route.  People have their own ideas of what smells are good. For me, it’s chocolate, lilies and the ocean, but I don’t think anyone really wants to go around smelling like Hershey Kisses or sea salt all day long! And we each have our idea of what we don’t like. For me, I dislike patchouli, but I’ll never say you can’t wear it. It might be your chocolate!

While only a handful of people actually responded to the poll, the overall take was that people don’t want a scent free campus. 68% of those who responded answered with a “No,” while several said it was going too far. One response stated, “This is an absolute must. The minute you open your office and start treating headaches, you will see that scents are entirely incongruent with patient care. Many of these odors linger in the air, get on the adjusting table OR ON THE DOCTOR. This is a quality of care issue, people, to say nothing of the individual’s right not to have to smell you!” Another responded with, “Maybe the conversation should revolve around why the patient is so sensitive to smells and work on fixing that issue – that’s not normal.”

Other responses included, “I do believe it would be considerate to keep it to a minimum. On the other hand, it infringes on others’ right to their hygienic practices,” and, “I think all the environmental changes at school are great, but this would be going too far. I will keep wearing my perfume every day.”

While LIFE is not currently looking into creating a “scent-free policy” on this campus, there are several things each of us can do to be more considerate to others:

First, remember what we learned during anatomy and CNS classes; the olfactory nerves are highly adaptable and quickly become immune to smells.  When we use a specific perfume or cologne every day, our own senses become immune to it, requiring us to put on more just to have the same effect on our own senses that we are accostomed to.  Remember, not everyone thinks your perfume or body wash is as amazing as you think it is! Try to be courteous when applying your favorite fragrance.

Second, maintaining the overall quality of inside air and having good quality air purification systems are also beneficial. The overall air quality in buildings like ours is a constant issue that needs to be addressed.

Lastly, if someone is wearing a scent that is giving you a headache, making you sick or just irritating you, you can always move to another area in the room. It’s their right to wear their perfume and it’s your right to move to a different seat.

Life University states, “At this time LIFE is NOT adopting a scent-free campus, but we are always exploring ways to optimize the campus for the LIFE community!”  Continue this discussion on Facebook at Life University and also on our Facebook page at Vital Source. We’d love to hear from you!

Sharing Our Thoughts And Opinions – Sarah Moreau, UG Student

How far is too far?

Here at Life University, we pride ourselves on being the premier health and wellness university.  However, different students, faculty, and staff have different visions of what that means. To some, it means we are pursuing careers in health and wellness industries. To others, it means we need to all be on a certain diet and workout schedule, and only wear organic cotton clothing made from recycled or repurposed fibers. With so many vastly differing opinions, how do we manage?

With such strong feelings about all these issues floating around campus, discussions are almost guaranteed to happen, and from my viewpoint, the discussion seldom goes as well as it could. While we tolerate differences in any other form, a differing concept of what a Life University education  is or should be about is something about which many students I have observed seem to be very intolerant  Perhaps a student comes to LIFE to study in the undergraduate or master’s program.  Immediately, everyone tells this student they should go D.C. When met with hesitation or resistance, most back off, but some actually push harder. By doing so, these individuals think they’re helping someone find their career, but they might actually be pushing that person away. Ultimately, we are not all going to become chiropractors. If everyone on Earth were a chiropractor, no one would have enough patients to sustain a practice. The world needs other professions, as well. Instead of trying to coerce every student here into “The Program,” we should treat each other well, so that the idea of chiropractic doesn’t leave a bad taste in anyone’s mouth.

When discussing techniques, many students claim their preferred technique is the only good technique, and everyone else is crazy. Everyone ELSE is crazy? If there was only one technique to use, that is the only technique LIFE would teach. LIFE teaches a plethora of techniques because different D.C.’s prefer different techniques, different techniques work better for different patients, and none of them are wrong. So why do people get so arrogant that they believe only their favorite technique works? Maybe we should all step back and acknowledge there is at least some merit in all techniques taught at LIFE.

Some things on campus should be off-limits. Approaching someone and giving them a 30-minute lecture on why they are wrong about everything is NEVER a way to change someone’s mind. Approaching someone with an auto-immune disorder to tell them that one specific adjustment WILL cure them is rather insensitive. Considering the fact that this is happening on the campus of the largest chiropractic college in the world, makes this scenario just plain silly. Whether or not these students are D.C. students, they are surrounded by chiropractic every day. Chances are, you are not the first person to bring this theory to them, and it gets less welcome every time. As a person walking down the hallway, it’s really not your place to give them unsolicited advice about their health, especially when you consider the fact that they most likely already have an intern or D.C. of their own.

I am not saying all D.C. students are like this. Just like with any similar situation, the minority of people have the loudest voices, so that’s all people hear. With all of us shouting our opinions, none of us hear anything. Unfortunately, that sours many people on the Life University experience, and leaves us downtrodden, rather than uplifted. Our Lasting Purpose is To Give, To Do, To Love, and To Serve out of a sense of abundance. Perhaps we can keep this in mind when discussing our differences.  Maybe then, these discussions will be fruitful and lively, rather than the toxic lectures they so often become.

The LIFE Survival Guide – Sarah Moreau, UG Student

What every new student should know

A few weeks after I started my education at Life University, people began turning to me with questions. As someone who had only been here for a few weeks, I didn’t have a lot of the answers, but I was always happy to look them up. Since my first day at LIFE in January of 2010, I have picked up all manner of little tips, tricks, and fun things to do. Here are some of my favorites.

Need a little extra spending money? Make sure your FAFSA says that you are interested in work study, and get a job! Work study jobs on-campus are varied in job description and you are bound to find one that you love. Can’t find one? By getting to know different staff members on campus, you are more likely to find out about job openings when they are available. The benefits of work study jobs include more than just the pay. Unlike off-campus jobs, work study jobs have little to no federal tax withheld. By qualifying for and having a work study job, you automatically qualify for food stamps if you choose to apply. Also, Verizon Wireless offers a 22% discount for full-time and part-time LIFE employees. Other mobile service providers may offer discounts, so if you are curious, just ask!

Want to pay less tuition? If you are an undergraduate student or a Pre-DC student with more than two quarters of coursework, check out the Life Univer- sity Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to two students per quarter, is offered every quarter, and sources in the Financial Aid office say that very few students submit a completed application by the deadline. This scholarship requires that students submit a 300-word essay, 3 letters of rec- ommendation, at least 2 from teachers, have a GPA of 3.3, and complete and submit the Life University Scholarship Application. This is really not a lot of work required for 50%-off tuition for 4 quarters! Go to www. life.edu/financial_aid for more nifty scholarships!

Looking for ways to get to know people around campus? Try volunteering! Every quarter, Jen Valtos and Dr. Schneider host orientation for all of our new students. What better way to get to know people and get free food! There are also opportunities to volunteer for LIFE Leadership Weekend, headed up by Melissa Fredericks on the second weekend of the quarter, and countless opportunities to bond with your fellow classmates in clubs and organizations all over campus.

Know someone who is interested in chiropractic? Have them sign up for LIFE Leadership Weekend! The weekend levels the playing field so that people can learn what chiropractic is, if chiropractic is right for them, and if LIFE is the right chiropractic college for them. Because some people come from a long line of DC’s, and some people have never been adjusted and are just curious, this weekend lets our participants truly explore themselves to discover if the chiropractic path is right for them! For more information, contact Melissa Fredericks.

Looking for new running shoes? Try finding them online! I recently found a nice pair of Ryka running shoes on sale online for $29.99, and the same pair was selling at the Cumberland Mall for $68.95. So, I tried them on in the mall, decided what size was appropriate, and ordered them online! Because the shipping was free, I saved a nice chunk of change! Looking for orthotics? Go to the C-HOP or the CC-HOP to get fitted for your FREE Foot Levelers. The process is quick and painless, and the magic word is Free!

Need a place to live? Check out our on-campus housing and check out ProMove. Pro-Move is a company that helps you find a place to live within the parameters you set. You can email or call with the rent range you are comfortable paying, move-in date, number of bedrooms desired, and any special requests, such as avoiding Franklin Road, and Pro-Move will send you a list of apartments that fit those specifications. The only thing Pro-Move asks in return is that you write “referred by Pro-Move” on the rental application.

If you have questions that need answered, feel free to ask! The unique and great thing about this campus is that almost everyone I know is willing to help if they know that you need it!

What the Hell Does That Mean? – Mike Hollerbach, Pre D.C. Student

Initial untangling AT Life University

When I first arrived at Life University it seemed as though students were speaking in tongues.  I kept hearing students mentioning  letters that I had no idea what they stood for or meant such as OSCE, ACA, ICA, CCE, LP, DE, WCCS, ML, ACC, SOS, DOA, IDK, WTF? I was on a mission to understand what these cryptic initials stood for. So after having been here seven months now I think I have finally figured out what the heck people have been talking about, and that my new found knowledge might be of help to other new students!

Let me see if I can break it down for you and save you the confusion I had to go through when I first arrived at Life University.

Let’s start out with the easy ones,“DC”-stands for Doctor of Chiropractic.

“LP” –Stands for “Lasting Purpose” and was started by Drs. Sid and Nell Williams – the founders of Life University. This concept was created to encourage students to have a purpose in life higher than themselves or their bank accounts. Lasting Purpose was intended to teach students to become Doctors of Chiropractic and develop a purpose in life of serving others along with leaving this world better than they found it.

WCCS”- “The World Congress of Chiropractic Students” – an international forum representing the chiropractic profession. Active membership consists of over 28,000 students from 32 chiropractic colleges. The WCCS, which began in 1979, meets once a year for a week to discuss issues pertaining to the chiropractic education and chiropractic profession. This past September 125 students from 23 chiropractic schools met in Dallas, Texas. The 2011 Congress is scheduled to meet this coming April in Rio de Janiero, Brazil. The Life chapter meets on Thursdays at 12:00pm in room C-108.

“ML” –“Maximized Living” – a club made of Chiropractors and students committed to changing the way people view and manage their healthcare from the inside out. Members believe that Maximized Living is not only a club, it’s a lifestyle. They believe the power that is in the body keeps you well, helps get you well if you are sick, and maintains wellness for the rest of your life. The ML club meets Mondays at 5:00 pm in room C-1.

“OSCE”- “Objective Structural Clinical Examination” is a series of tests administered while in Student Clinic that involves numerous stations where each student is tested and evaluated by one or two examiners, typically lasting five to ten minutes. The students rotate around different testing stations where they are tested on both their communication skills and clinical examination of mock patients with varying ailments. This takes place for fourth and twelfth quarter students

“CCE” – although most students seem to have no idea what these initials stand for, I did my homework and found out they officially stand for “Council on Chiropractic Education.”  The “CCE” is an agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as the accreditation group Chiropractic Colleges. According to the CCE website (www.cce-usa.org) ”The CCE seeks to insure the quality of chiropractic education in the United States by means of accreditation, educational improvement and public information. CCE develops accreditation criteria to assess how effectively programs or institutions plan, implement and evaluate their mission and goals, program objectives, inputs, resources and outcomes of their chiropractic programs.” Sounds like an important organization to be aware of if becoming a Chiropractor is the path you have chosen.

“ACC” – The Association of Chiropractic Colleges represents accredited chiropractic colleges in North America and seeks to advance chiropractic education, research and service. The Association of Chiropractic Colleges will support its member institutions in advancing chiropractic education, in graduating competent professionals, in conducting scholarly research, and in carrying out public service to enhance the health of the public. Taken from the ACC website (www.chirocolleges.org/about.html)

There are numerous professional chiropractic organizations such as the WFC, ACA, and ICA.

The ACA is the “American Chiropractic Association and its mission is to preserve, protect, improve and promote the chiropractic profession and the services of Doctors of Chiropractic for the benefit of patients they serve. The purpose of the ACA is to provide leadership in health care and a positive vision for the chiropractic profession and its natural approach to health and wellness. On behalf of the chiropractic profession, they accomplish their mission and purpose by affecting public policy and legislation, by promoting high standards in professional ethics and quality of treatment and by carrying out a dynamic strategic plan to help ensure the professional growth and success of Doctors of Chiropractic.” Taken from the ACA website (www.acatoday.org/level2_css.cfm?T1ID=10&T2ID=20)

The International Chiropractic Association represents chiropractors around the world with the simple yet profound mission “To advance chiropractic throughout the world as a distinct health care profession predicated upon its unique philosophy, science, and art.” They work internationally to “maintain and promote chiropractic’s unique identity as a non-therapeutic, drugless and surgical-free health science, based on its fundamental principles and philosophy.” As referenced from the ICA website (www.chiropractic.org/index.php?p=ica/vision)

The WFC – World Federation of Chiropractic has members in eighty-five countries and has worked closely with the World Health Organization since 1997. Acting with national and international organizations to provide information and other assistance in the fields of chiropractic and world health;

• Promoting uniform high standards of chiropractic education, research and practice;
• Developing an informed public opinion among all peoples with respect to chiropractic; and
• Uniting members of the chiropractic profession and protecting the character and status of the profession.
• From the WFC website wfc.org

There are other organizations that I did not mention but I wanted to get you started in having a better understanding of this new language you might hear on campus.. So I hope this tutorial has helped in some way. At the very least it might save you from some embarrassing blank stares when talking with other chiropractic students.

P.S. –FYI Start using this new language ASAP so you don’t forget what it means.  THNX, CU LTR

Life University Survival Guide

New on campus? Wondering where the “goodies” are? Here are some helpful tips to keep you afloat.

Print doubled sided at the library! Still costs the same, but it will keep your notebook thinner and preserve some paper. It’s as easy as following these steps: Click the “File” menu top left à “Print…” à Click the drop down menu to the right of where it says “Printer Name” à Select “BlackWhite – Double Sided”

Hardly anyone knows about the Special Collections Room (formerly known as the Palmer Room). You may gain admittance (one student at a time!) by requesting at the front desk. They’ll give you a pass and you can read loads of interesting chiropractic books and journals. Check it!

Need a quiet place to study in the Center for Chiropractic Education (Annex C)? Check out the Student Success Center (SSC). Here you’ll find a place to sit down & cram or to practice your mopal/setups/ortho tests/etc. To get to the SSC, exit C127, head right, turn left before the bathrooms, and follow that hall until you run into the glass doors.

Need to email a classmate or telephone a faculty member? Cruise over to the Life U Online Directory to get all the contact info you need. Just make sure to plug their name into the right search slot. http://directory.life.edu/Direct.html

What’s this AmeriPress thing all about? To get there, leave the east entrance of Life U, make a left onto Cobb Parkway North, a left onto Roswell Rd (at the big chicken), and a right onto Fairground St. Travel ½ mile and it’s on your right. Address: 198 N Fairground St NE, Marietta

No one in the DC program has classes 11-1 Tuesday & Thursday (unless for a master’s class or an elective) – this is usually a good time to hold meetings. But don’t forget assembly, Thursday at 11, three times per quarter (check BB for upcoming assembly dates and speakers).

Sick of making a list of your class schedule after registration? Visit your friendly Registrar’s office to request a printout of your schedule.

Here’s a helpful reminder: Double and triple check that you’re registered on BB for all of your classes. Teachers have a tendency to inadvertently delete new students from their course, so just make sure they haven’t pulled the plug on you. Instructors will also remind you to register six million times during the first week.

Library hours: M-Th 7am-11:45pm, F 7am-6:45pm, Sat 10:30-6:45, Sun 1:30-11:45
Café hours: M-F 6:30-4, closed Sat & Sun
Bookstore hours: M-Th 8:30-5, F 8:30-3, closed Sat & Sun
Treehouse hours:

Something to add? Email submissions.vs@gmail.edu with your helpful tips.

Chiro-Games Update – Jason Feltz, D.C. Student

Line-ups are looking to win gold!

This year’s planning for the Chiro-Games has been much more organized thanks to my experience in planning last year’s games and now with the support of Life University Athletics. The athletics department, including Jenni Bennett and coaches John Barrett and Bill Firnbach, have given opportunity for the athletic clubs to hold tryouts and practice sessions in preparation of the upcoming games. Athletics has also contributed thousands of dollars to the cost of the trip to Cocoa Beach this year which has made it possible for students to attend the games at a moderate expense.

At a cost of $140 for each attending student athlete, the fee will cover a $45 registration per student for their sport, a beach-front hotel for 3 nights, transportation costs including gasoline, and their uniform. Said golf team member John Gould, “The cost is well worth the trip because of the fun you have, and now we get to stay that extra night for the awards ceremony.”

Two teams will be representing in each sport with the exception of women’s soccer and basketball. Tryouts have determined who will be on the A team and the B team for those sports with multiple teams. Out of the 374 students that expressed interest in playing in the games, 153 will be taken this year, up from 90 that attended last year’s games.

Life U. brought home gold medals in beach volleyball and women’s soccer last year and those teams have returned this season in hopes of defending their title. Last year’s silver medal winning teams in golf, tennis and flag football have restructured their lineups this season in hopes of claiming gold medals. Kelly Duffner, the B-team captain for flag football feels his team has a great shot at medalling, “With the depth of talent that [Life] has, our teams seem about equal. I think our biggest competition will be ourselves. If we are disciplined, and we utilize our talents effectively, I think we’ll have a great shot at winning gold and we could end up playing our A-team in the championship.”

Life faced some stiff competition last year and this year’s all-star line-ups seem poised to bring some power to the field. When asked who might be Life’s biggest competition at the Chiro-Games, beach volleyball captain Grant Sikes says “Well Logan is the defending champs, but Parker won the previous 4 years and they invest a lot into their club sports. Palmer isn’t too far behind either. With the number of athletes we have this year, we have high expectation of gold and those other schools need to prepare for us.” It is true that Parker’s athletic department is fully invested in its student athletes. Besides equipment and uniforms, student athletes are granted excused absences from class to practice for the Chiro-Games. It is the goal of Life Athletics to form yearlong clubs surrounding the sports represented in the Chiro-Games as well, allowing student athletes to develop their talents and teamwork to a higher level of competition.

In the overall standings last year, Life came up with the bronze trophy in its first school-wide commitment to the event. With the lower levels of interest last year and a lot of last-minute planning, Life managed to surprise the other schools in the standings. This year Life plans on taking the top platform and bringing home the gold trophy.

Life Undergraduate Rugby – Kelly Milano, D.C. Student

Dominating the Competition

Saturday, October 2 was the perfect day for a rugby game! The air was cool, the sun was out and there was excitement in the air. The stands were packed with new students, returning students, alumni and fans! This game was a monumental game for the Life University Rugby Club (LURC) as the club unveiled its all undergraduate team.Up until this point, the teams consisted of a Men’s Division 1 team and a Super League team that combined both undergraduates and DC students on the same field.

The opening game of the season had almost a carnival atmosphere with face painting and a moon jump for the kids, pre and post game parties, food, drinks and a lot of excitement. It also coincided with the New Student Orientation that welcomed in the new students for the fall. The new students were all decked out in their new Life Rugby t-shirts courtesy of the Athletic Department. While most of these students had never seen a rugby game and didn’t understand how it was played, most left excited about the game, looking forward to future games. Several of the DC rugby students were in the crowd, interlaced with the new students, explaining how the game worked and what the calls meant, helping to better equip the new students with a new understanding and appreciation for the game.

Life came out to a slow start while facing off against the Virginia Tech Hokies, with the first try not coming until 13 minutes into the game, but failing to get the 2 point conversion. The Hokies responded with a try and the conversion and took the only lead they would have in the game with a score of 7-5.

During the 2^nd half, Life dominated the pitch, scoring a total of six tries in the half and walking away with a 60-7 win over the Hokies. The preparation leading up to this opening game was intense for these young players. Many were new to the team and some saw their first collegiate game play. The practice hours were long, often starting at 6:30am to help teach discipline and increase endurance and drive in the players.

In the coming weeks, Life will face off against some big name teams including University of Georgia, Ohio State, University of Tennessee, Texas A&M, LSU and Notre Dame. Come out and cheer on your Life University Eagles and join the frenzy!

Photo courtesy of Adam Schwarz – Lightning Photography

Syllabus Hell Week – James Beuerlein, D.C. Student

Let’s Call It Like It Is

I’d say this title is an accurate description of my welcome to the D.C. program at Life. My fellow First Quarter students and I came bounding into C127 early Monday morning October 4th, full of excitement and wonder with huge anime-like stars in our eyes. Over the course of the next five days, those stars faded, disappeared, turned to tears, and finally burning fire. What could do this? What could spoil such hope and enthusiasm? What could crush such eager spirits? The tedium of reading and discussing syllabi six hours a day for an entire week.

Who is to blame here? Well, no one really. Perhaps the issue has not yet been raised. It’s possible, I guess. In that case, I’d like to address the faculty and administration of this fine institution. Ladies and Gentlemen, Doctors, on behalf of the Fall 2010 D.C. 1st quarter class, I would like to state, for the record, that we can read! Whatever loophole we may have found in order to beat the system and undeservingly gain admission to this prestigious doctoral program, I assure you that we did not accomplish it without the ability to read and understand the English language.

I know there is a mountain of circumstantial evidence to the contrary—plenty of “I didn’t know about this…” statements at the end of the quarter from desperate pupils. I posit that rather than a lack of ability to read, these statements come from a lack of responsibility and common sense, and, while those traits are important, this is a chiropractic university. Perhaps failing a class or two in the first quarter is exactly what lazy students need in order to shock them into realizing, “Oh $#!*, this is a professional degree. I guess I should take some initiative.” Educators, I believe that this is closer to the true problem – not a lack of ability to read. And, YES, we do know how to use computers and the internet. For all our talk of vitalism, we really need to give natural selection a chance here.

Surely, with that knowledge under our belts, there must be some way to streamline this process. Now, far be it from me to complain about this issue and offer no solution. No. In fact, I propose that a letter be drafted and delivered to the students in triplicate: email, post, and handed out at orientation. It could be worded something like this:

Dear New Student,

Welcome to Life University. There are a few things you should know before beginning your career at Life.

We expect you to show up day one, prepared. This means that you should have already logged on to Blackboard, read the syllabus for each class, and purchased the required text. If you have trouble accessing Blackboard, please contact the IT department. A quiz worth 5 points of your final grade will be given at the beginning of each class, and it will cover only information found in the class syllabus. Additionally, all required textbooks are available at the school bookstore. If you choose to purchase your books online, it is up to you to ensure that your books arrive before class begins or that you are able to make do until they do arrive. A copy of each required text can also be found in the university’s library.

We are very happy that you chose Life University for excellence in chiropractic education. However, should you find yourself at the end of your first week having lost 5 points in each class and unable to do your homework because you have no textbooks, this may not be the program for you. Please remember: if you hope to be called “Doctor” at the end of this program, you’re going to have to earn it.

Once again, welcome! Good luck on your studies!

Sincerely, the Faculty and Administration of Life University.

Without question, each teacher will have specific instructions for their class that they will need 15 or 20 min to explain day 1. But it does not need to be 2 hours, and it does not need to consume our whole week. Were it not for the fact that a few of the classes meet more than once per week, I may not have learned anything in the first tenth of the quarter. Please, let’s stop tithing to the syllabus.

Life Graduates Sent to Change the World – Kelly Milano, D.C. Student

Summer 2010 Graduates List

Looking through the halls of Life University this quarter you may notice that some of the faces that you’ve come to know are no longer walking among us. The 6 Life University and Vital Source would like to extend our congratulations and best wishes to the Summer 2010 graduates.  These students are no longer walking the halls as students, but as alumni, calling Life their alma mater.

Life University and Vital Source would like to congratulate all of the recent graduates.  Go out and change the world, one spine at a time!!

Saman Ahmadi
Maren Alvarez
Christopher Bennett
Matthew Boheen
Blair Bradley
Eric Brown
Whitney Carlson
Benedict Cavaliere, Jr.
Mark Chappell-Lakin
Patrick Criss
John Dandelski
Nicholas Deignan
Angelo DiCarlo
Alaric Diggs
Briana Duga
William Early
Brian Feeney
Christopher Flint
Ian Fliss
Carrier Foerter
John Foley
Justin Fountain
Ariel Galarza
Erin Gauthier
Adlene Ghabri
Keith Guthrie
Benjamin Harris
Mark Johnson
In Jung
Justin Kenney
Philip Kogler
Lambros Kottalis
Seth LaFlamme
Joel Maloof
Gerrado Martinez
Andrew Mayberry
Kendrick McQueen
Tomeka Middleton
Lauren Millman
Tannaz Modaresi
Justin Moseley
Amy Mushrush
Erica Nichols
Jason Olafsson
Marie Palazzolo
Domenico Pantano
Brooke Pennino
Patricia Reichmann
Alberto Rivero
Kimberly Rogers
Rhiannon Shannon
Roger Shannon
Megan Shreve
Seah Smith
Andrew St. Bernard
Whitney Taylor
Andrea Towers
Adam Trapp
Jonathon Vito
Stephen Wallace
Timothy Warner
Julian Wetterlin
Philip Wygonski

New Student Enrollment Exceeds 400 – Carley Edwards, D.C. Student

Numbers expected to increase

As Life University continues to expand with the new café, parking deck, and green area, so does the new student body. The total new student enrollment for the fall quarter was 420 students. This includes the Doctor of Chiropractic Program, The College of Undergraduate Studies and The College of Graduate Studies and Research. The Doctor of Chiropractic Program welcomed 156 new students, making the total headcount 1543 students. However, fall 2007 exceeded this number with 178 new students enrolled in the DC program and 162 in the fall 2009 quarter.

The College of Undergraduate Studies had the highest enrollment seen in years with 240 new students, making 792 total undergraduate students. The College of Graduate Studies and Research has 102 students, 24 of them new this quarter. This number may not seem like a lot, but compared to fall 2005, there were only two new students enrolled. This brings the Life University current total student enrollment to 2437 students. This is 100 more students than last year.

Welcome to Life – Kelly Milano, D.C. Student

it’s a great time to be here

What a great time to be a student on the campus of Life University. As this quarter is getting underway, there is a buzz in the air that hasn’t been experienced before. The Village Retreat Student Housing is at full capacity. The first rugby game of the season saw full bleachers and excited students and fans, (and a massive win by the team!) The First Tuesday festivities saw students excited and the Annex C plaza was virtually at capacity with its sea of students and faculty. The Socrates Café is packed with students at all times of the day and the campus is feeling like a ‘real’ college campus.

In the past, the first day of school brought nothing more than another mundane repeat of going to classes, passing people in the hallway and possibly not even smiling. There was nothing to be excited about. Life was truly lifeLESS at that time, but times are changing. LIFE is changing!

In revitalizing the campus, Dr. Riekeman has stated that one of his goals is to create a campus with a community feel and a true college atmosphere. With increased gathering spots, such as the Socrates Café and the outside eating areas, the Life Village Retreat that is full of activities and events for its residents, sporting events and clubs, life has truly started to come to Life.

This quarter will once again see the Chiro-Games, which Life students participated in last year for the first time since the accreditation crisis. These games will bring more unity and relationships among the students, as well as a pride in the student body, as they represent Life while facing off against the other chiropractic colleges across the nation. The various athletic clubs and intramural sports on campus have support of the Athletic Department like never before. Coach Barrett, Athletic Director at Life, has stated that “Intramural sports are just as important as club sports and intercollegiate sports. We want to create a place where everyone who wants to, can compete and partake in sports”

Another great event that happens weekly on campus is the ongoing activity at the Treehouse. Just about every night, you can find some sort of activities to partake in. From movie nights, open mic nights, pool tournaments and Wii competitions, there is a little something for everyone who is looking for a place to hang out.

Speakers are beginning to flock to Life University as they have realized the quality of chiropractors that we are putting out and want to be a part of the excitement and experience of our university. This quarter will see more of the Carrick Neurology modules and trainings, Arno Burnier, Life Force Weekend with Dr. Joe Dispenza, Animal Adjusting seminars with Dr. Jay Komarek, and many more.

It’s an exciting time to be at Life. Our school’s history is being written right now, and we are a part of it. With all that is happening, you only have to open your eyes and you will find something to get involved in. Where will you find your place? What events and activities will you choose to join? Enjoy your time at Life and get involved! As always, Vital Source will provide information and details on new events and happenings at Life University. For questions or comments please email submissions.vs@gmail.com, or visit our facebook page.

Lessons Beyond the Classroom – Melissa Bettess, D.C. Student

The story of Dr. Lydia Dever’s fight to return to her life after a horrific accident

Every once in a while a student will learn far more from their teacher than what is testable by means of paper and pencil. The teacher herself may not even be fully aware of all the extra valuable lessons she is impressing upon her students. Dr. Lydia Dever is one of those fine educators available here at Life University whose teaching extends far beyond the sometimes suffocating walls of the classroom.

The greatest lessons of life often follow tragedy. On Memorial Day weekend 2009, Dr. Dever was faced with a near-death experience. After a horrific motorcycle accident, Dr. Dever ended up under a heavy-duty pickup truck’s back tire. Though in critical condition, thankfully she was still alive. The accident left her with a long list of injuries: a pelvis broken in four places, a diagonal fracture from its base to S2, two damaged ligaments in her right knee, a broken middle finger, a fifth-degree separation of her right shoulder, four broken ribs on her left side, her clavicle had become hyper-mobile, moving in front of her sternum, and a lacerated bladder.

Coming back from such trauma was not an easy feat. Questions flew around campus wondering whether Dever would ever be strong enough to return to campus or her practice in Kennesaw. She was able to leave the hospital June 19th, ahead of all the doctors’ expectations, wearing a pelvis fixator, which resembled a towel rack.

Dr. Dever’s healing progressed quickly with support from the Life community, her family and friends, daily adjustments by practice partner, Dr. Tomasello, and physical therapists. Her recovery was difficult. It was easy to push herself physically too far and she would end up paying the price through increased pain and/or fatigue. Her strong will gave her the drive to persevere.

Dr. Dever returned to the classroom last October, a mere five months following her accident, with a modified schedule that allowed her a break after teaching a class.

In November, she sought out the expertise of DC student, Brandon Shriner, to help further with her recovery. Shriner is a personal trainer at the Wellness Center, and a TRX expert. (TRX is a suspension trainer developed by a Marine that is designed to be used anywhere there is a tree or tree-like structure). When Shriner started working with Dever, she could not even start on the TRX. She had to start with simple workouts that focused on core strengthening and stability and increasing range of motion. He took a neurological approach to her workouts, to get the brain-body connection balanced. He managed this task by using exercises that unveiled Dever’s weaknesses so she built up weaker muscles instead of overdeveloping stronger muscles thereby preventing her increasing the gap between stronger and weaker muscles. This helped reduce setbacks in her reconditioning. The exercises were analogous to a chiropractic adjustment – specific and precise.

While working out with Shriner once a week, Dr. Dever also had occupational therapy to increase her shoulder range of motion in order to help propel her workouts. She did cardio on her own, had soft tissue work done, and of course, adjustments.  Shriner concluded that, “All of the soft tissue work, adjustments, exercise, love and support, etc., created a body fit for healing so that God could do His work.”

A person’s true colors come out when forced to deal with adversary. Dr. Dever’s true colors have a lot to teach anyone who is blessed to come in contact with this fascinating woman. Shriner got to experience more of that than anyone. Shriner states that, “I learned more from her than she did from me.” He saw her fight harder than any other person in her sneakers would have, “I wasn’t going to let her quit. A lot of people would have thought, ‘It’s okay to quit because I’ve come this far.’” Dr. Dever’s drive to recover was not for self-seeking reasons. No. Her feisty desire was to be back in the trenches to serve chiropractic. Dever was anxious to get back to serving her patients. She had students waiting patiently for her return to the classroom. She is a great example for the school, her students, her patients, the chiropractic profession, and especially women chiropractors. Through her life story, she emanates what chiropractic stands upon, ‘To give. To do. To love. To serve.’