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USF, Nova also reject school of chiropractic

Backers so far have no luck finding a home for the program turned down by Florida State.

By LUCY MORGAN
Published February 25, 2005

TALLAHASSEE - Backers of a controversial chiropractic school that was blocked from starting at Florida State University are looking for a new home.

But it won't be the University of South Florida.

FSU president T.K. Wetherell called USF president Judy Genshaft earlier this week to see if she was interested in linking a chiropractic school to USF's alternative medicine program.

"I don't think she has a lot of interest. She didn't want my help or my money," Wetherell said. "She said something about the horse you rode in on."

Genshaft could not be reached for comment.

Wetherell said supporters of what would be the first public chiropractic school in the nation are discussing who else might want it. He refused to identify them.

They initially contacted former Rep. Fred Lippman, who works at Nova Southeastern University in Broward County, but was told Nova doesn't want it, Wetherell said.

A year ago legislators gave FSU $9-million a year to establish a chiropractic school, but the proposal was rejected last month by the Board of Governors, which oversees all Florida universities.

Some legislators want the $9-million back despite a clause in the law that gave FSU permission to spend it on other projects if the school did not happen.

Sens. Jim King, R-Jacksonville, and Dennis Jones, R-Treasure Island, won legislative approval for the project but now say FSU should give the money back.

Wetherell said he hopes to keep the money and plans to present lawmakers with a proposal. "We're going to give them a plan to save them millions and millions of dollars," Wetherell said. He would not disclose details.

Jones and King say a public chiropractic school is dead in Florida. Jones, a chiropractor, said the Florida Chiropractic Association is so disappointed about the controversy they are considering asking FSU to return $1-million they donated to establish a chiropractic chair at FSU. The money was donated in 1996 and matched with $750,000 in state funds in 2001.

FSU Medical School faculty led the opposition against the project, with some calling chiropractic quackery and others objecting to the Legislature forcing the program on the university.

"They have kind of jerked us around and never set research space aside," Jones complained about FSU and the Board of Governors. "If they really don't have an interest in pursuing a true chiropractic program, we need to relocate the chair to an area that would be receptive."

Jones said the money might go to another state interested in establishing a public chiropractic school. He said he is still shocked the school was rejected and has not participated in discussions about finding another location in Florida.

"We had 200 students treading water hoping there would be a program," Jones said. "Our members are disappointed. They have put a lot of money over there (at FSU)."

Wetherell said he will return the donation if the chiropractors ask for it. FSU also would have to return the matching money or get permission to use it to match another donation.

Wetherell said he hopes the chiropractors will "wait until everyone chills out" and give FSU time to generate additional donations for research or classwork related to chiropractic.

"Chiropractic is a damn good program," Wetherell added. "If the state is going to certify chiropractors, we ought to have our own training program."

King pushed for the chiropractic school while president of the Senate but has given up.

"I told the chiropractors it is time for a different standard bearer," King said. "I've donated the last 10 years of my life to this but I'm like a lightning rod with this now."

King said some people have suggested locating the program at St. Petersburg College.

SPC president Carl M. Kuttler Jr. said he is interested. "But it's not on our agenda," Kuttler added.

A chiropractic school would fly in the face of agreements he has with FSU and require a change in state law, Kuttler said. The college is considering alternative medicine courses but not chiropractic, Kuttler said.

[Last modified February 25, 2005, 00:51:16]