#31 Senior Class schedule

First, a moment in time that many will remember where they were when they heard the news.  For me it was January 28, 1986.  I was walking on the main clinic floor going to the pedo department when I heard that the Space Shuttle Challenger had exploded soon after takeoff, killing all on board.  I've always been a space nerd.  My uncle was one of the engineers on the Apollo moon program.  We got lazy......

#30 Some serious "butt-kicking" by a future Assemblyman

But First......

The infant known as Baby Fae was born in the desert town of Barstow, California with a heart defect that's fatal within days. The parents chose an experimental treatment, and surgeon Leonard Bailey placed inside the infant the transplanted heart of a baboon …

Many of us remember the news media roaming LLU campus in October 1984 after the historic, and one time, baboon heart transplant of Baby Fae.  This controversial procedure was a stepping stone for Dr. Bailey to perform the first successful infant allograft heart transplant a year later.

Now........  On to Woody.......

I won't reproduce the single spaced legal page size dressing-down that Jim Wood, the DSA representative, (and editor of the Ballburnisher), printed in the Ballburnisher concerning the "alleged" leadership of the DSA.....but a few highlights.

--He call to task the various DSA officers for accountability of costs and information.  The DSA president, Greg Mitchell, called a Student Life Committee meeting for those representatives to give such an accounting.  None of them showed up.  Woody was not happy.

--He reminded all dental students that "a flurry of activity from the DSA as present officers try to improve their images in pursuit of a higher position in the DSA hierarchy.  "I hope you remember that the DSA has NOT accomplished this year for the improvement of the student body when you consider who to cast your vote for in April".  Woody was not happy.

--And this is my favorite....."Our class has been singled out as "expecting too much" out of DSA, of being too critical and scrutinizing.  DSA is funded by student tuition, yours and mine, and therefore we have a right to expect something for our money.  So maybe it is about time that we voiced our concern for their inactivity".  Woody was not happy.

--And a look into the future for Jim........"The DSA should not be a platform for the "would-be" politician who are all smooth talk and no action.  It should be a medium for concerned individuals to unite the student body and work for its benefit".  Woody is planning ahead.

POSTCRIPT:  Our  class "took over" the DSA the next year to put the train back on the track, with Kelly as President, Denny B. as Vice-Pres., Richard Kunihira as secretary, Bruce as treasurer and Woody as PR officer and Ballburnisher Editor.  

Go Eighty6'ers!!!!!!!!!!

#29 Chan and Cowley to the Netherlands……what?

Backstory----According to the Ballburnisher, Curtis and Peter won the the Grand Prize at the LLUSD Alumni/Student Convention for their table clinic, “Fracture Resistance and Resistance to Dislodgement in Dentin Bonded Core Systems”.  Congratulations guys.  They went on to present their table clinic in Anaheim for the CDA, then to San Francisco for the ADA.  (Too bad the ADA wasn’t in Orlando that year).
Further, they were rewarded a travel grant of $900 by the American Association of Dental Research to present their “poster clinic” during the International Association of Dental Research meeting June 26-28, 1986 in the Hague, Netherlands.  Now, first question:  Did you guys go?, Second question: What all did you do while in the Netherlands?  We need a full report at the reunion!!

#27 The Ballburnisher

I have a stack of these.  As you may recall, this was the monthly newsletter for the entire dental school.  (I might add, a pale comparison to our award-winning News Caries!).  A few  highlights from just one issue:

--Edited by Jim Wood
--Cartoons by Chris Chu
--Timely reports by John Liu who was our CDA student represented for two years.  He was already speaking out at the CDA House of Delegates.  An early start to his illustrious leadership career.
--Kelly Mohr, our DSA President proposing a Dental School Forum to allow/encourage/improve communication between students, faculty, administration and employees.
--Side note, in the Kiplinger Washington Lettter dated July 12, 1985 three “soon to be available” dental treatment modalities: a fluoride tablet attached to a tooth to release fluoride for six months, a vaccine to prevent cavities (expected in the early 90’s), an electrodes to straighten teeth, no braces……..Hmm, still waiting on all three of these, 30 years later.
--A two page comprehensive assessment of the parking fiasco around LLUSD penned by Mark Romanelli.  Briefly, 250 spaces for 445 parking permits. 
--Larry Kaban’s report from the Dental Research Conference in Boston. 


Now, did you notice a common thread here??  Our class, exclusively, produced the Ball Burnisher!  In addition to everything else our class was involved in, we took the time and energy to be involved at all levels of leadership in the dental school.  And, this was with typewriters, white-out and copy machines!

#28 The Golden Probe Awards--Junior Year

The tradition continued.  Looking at my notes from my "year in review speech", (Yeah, I kept 'everything'), this was quite a year. Lots of clinic time, classes were tougher, and we expected more of our teachers.  And.....a few bumps in the road.  Namely the Christian Ethics class where almost all of us walked out during a test.  (As mentioned last week).

Romo and Zingler were the Masters-of-Ceremony, Dean Klooster gave the open address, we honored one teacher and did a "Byrd Roast" of another.  I got no details here. Then the Awards.  A few highlights:

• LLU Vice Award
• Hey Look Me Over Award
• Projectile Award: Inflictee and Inflictor
• Can You Beat This Award
• Sherlock Holmes Award
• Most Ridiculous Question Award
• Deepest Trout Award
• Lab Scab Award
• I Got Mine Award
• Hose Me Down Award
• We're Not Taking It Anymore Award
• Gutta Percha Grand Prix Award

Another great "Chooie".  Was this guy a prophet or what???

OK, if you are still with me, I think I will take the time to retype a scenario I developed in my speech at the 3rd Golden Probes.  Perhaps typical of our time at LLUSD.......

--patient is really happy with old dentures, only needs a few teeth to be replaced

--patient is convinced by that new dentures are needed

--patient says he is a gagger.....patient is right

--teeth are selected and mounted in lingualized occlusion according to teacher A

--teacher B disagrees, teeth are thrown away and new rational teeth are mounted in flat plane occlusion

--denture is delivered, teacher C (who has seen denture and patient on three previous visits) discovers retromolar pads aren't covered.....reline

--patient returns, can't tolerate retromolar pads being covered....acrylic is removed

--4 days before 2 week check, student discovers patient hasn't worn denture for 10 days

--one week into second 14 day trial period, patient complains that upper denture falls.  New post dam is added, no help, it is determined denture was warped during processing

--new denture made

--one week into 3rd 14 day trial period, patient returns with upper midline 4mm to the left

--teacher D determines that CR record taken with teacher C and checked by teacher B was not accurate

--Eighty'6er goes to a CO record and removes and realigns 11 of 14 teeth

--patient returns for wax tryin of new alignment.  CR/CO changed (again) now midline is too far the other direction, 11 of 14 teeth are moved back

--student takes dentures to lab to have them processed and lab tech drops lower denture and breaks it in half

--patient returns for his repaired/relined/ remade dentures and is told if he has any complaints to wait till after June 14 to discuss them.....(we are on vacation)

#26 Christian Ethics "Situation"

Unfortunately, I have not been blessed with a great long term memory.  Short term, fine. (I did survive dental school, after all).  BUT, a vivid memory from dental school is the Christian Ethic "Situation".  

You may recall, it was felt that the test was a set up to make our class fail, so a walk-out ensued.  After the walk-out, I ended up walking-in to Dean Klooster's office to have a mä-nō-ä-ˈmä-nō with Judd, Ron, and the two instructors, (Gemini).  Actually, a "highlight" of my dental career.

The few times I have hooked up with Ron Dailey over the last 29 years he has brought up the "situation".  I do have some clear recollection of the walk-out, (and the aftermath), and so does Ron!

Now, Dean Dailey will be speaking at the 30th Golden Probe Awards, AND he mentioned to me that he will be addressing said "situation".  I told him I reserved the option to counter-point his memory "real-time".  We'll see.

#25 Our Class/Clinic Schedule for our Junior Year

Other than my oldest son, Alex, other famous people were born in 1985 as well.  Micheal Phelps for one.  Yeah, #10 has been bugging me for years too.

Number #10 hasn't been near the problem for me with Keira Knightley.  In fact, her rather wonky smile has been a nice refreshing exception to the "lumineer" look of so many actors.........

Photoshop or dental work, you decide.