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The Writing on the Wall
By Pattie Stechschulte

New epigrams for Life University

In the past, as one would walk through the hallways at Life University, people would be greeted with epigrams engraved on wooden plaques hanging from the walls.

Most believe these epigrams were witty, short sayings meant to inspire visitors, but there is actually a deeper historical and philosophical vision to them.

History of Epigrams
The use of epigrams reaches back to B.J. Palmer. They are often described as a concisely written thought with a satirical bent and a comical ending.

“The epigram, according to B.J. Palmer, was a short, concise saying,” says Dr. Bob Rabin, consultant, Life University and 1980 alumnus. “It’s almost like Shakespeare, ‘Brevity is the soul of wit.’”

According to Alana Callender, director of the Palmer Foundation for Chiropractic History, B.J. wrote some of the epigrams, while others he modified.

“Some have traced the origins of 1,170 epigrams that originally appeared on the Palmer campus and they attributed 1,059 of them to B.J.,” says Callender.

Palmer’s collection of epigrams, entitled “As a Man Thinketh,” comprises thousands he wrote or collected throughout his life. Over 3,000 of these epigrams appeared inside and outside buildings on the Palmer School of Chiropractic campus in Davenport.

“B.J. once said ‘Give us 30 days and we’ll write a book. Give us three months, and we’ll write a paragraph. Give us a year, and we’ll write an epigram,’ ” says Rabin.

As a Palmer alumnus, Dr. Sid E. Williams, founder and former president of Life University, added epigrams to the campus to help influence the students and staff over the years.

“The epigrams are important because they contain succinct thoughts that provide motivation and direction,” says Dr. Ron Kirk, chiropractic science professor, Life University and 1978 alumnus. “The epigrams reflect Life’s roots and traditions.”

Returning to Life Campus
Recently, since the main buildings at the campus of Life University have undergone some remodeling, many of the epigrams were removed and put into storage.

“While refurbishing the building it was determined that many of the epigrams did not match each other, the décor of the building and were out of date that they would be redone to be more in line with the mission of the college of chiropractic, the profession and the new facilities,” says Dr. Guy Riekeman, president of Life University.

Riekeman added that during the remodeling of the Center for Chiropractic Education, formerly known as Annex C, it was determined that many of the epigrams were outdated and did not fit with the mission of the college. A student committee was formed and requested to make a list of epigrams, thus some of the old ones were selected and new ones added.

“The epigrams selected are thematic and congruent with our mission. They are impactful, support Life’s belief systems, and espouse our Eight Core Proficiencies. The epigrams also have a historical basis in principled chiropractic history, which Life wants to accentuate because of our position in the profession as the primary philosophical subluxation-based educational institution in chiropractic,” says Riekeman.

A number of the epigrams have already made their way back on the walls in time for students starting the new quarter, which began in January. When the project is completed, there will be more than 50 epigrams gracing the hallways of Life once more.

“I think the importance is for students to be able to reflect on both the history and future of chiropractic, and that is the function of the epigrams,” says Dr. John Downes, director of International Programs at Life University and 1981 alumnus. “Life would go on if they never put them back up, but to those who see the value of philosophy, it is important.”

Effect on Students and Alumni
“When I first came to Life, I thought the epigrams were fantastic because they gave impetus to your thinking and they were motivational,” says Rabin.

The epigrams have had similar effects on other students and faculty.

“When I came to view Life College back in 1978, one of the things that struck me was the interesting signs on the walls with various sayings on them. I had no idea what they meant, but it kind of struck me initially as rather odd in a higher education institution. Then, as I came to school here, those sayings mean more over time as you get farther and farther down the road of life,” says Downes.

“For me they often provided prompts to stay on track and see the larger perspective of things,” says Kirk.

Downes sees the epigrams as a part of the environment of the institution and he does not know if they ever changed the way students do things, but the epigrams caused them to think. Which he believes is one of the tenants of education.

“I am not as concerned that a person thinks the way I think, as much as the fact that they are thinking why they do what they do, what it means to them and they stay consistent with it.”

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