tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5640358.post8188807088387890244..comments2023-10-31T06:25:46.016-04:00Comments on SLANTblog: VCU's prez under fireF.T. Reahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02042465274190082050noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5640358.post-49372717455019946782008-07-19T04:21:00.000-04:002008-07-19T04:21:00.000-04:00F.T.: When you have an organization in which nobod...F.T.: When you have an organization in which nobody dares criticize on the record, it has to make one wonder too. Maybe you should ask former biology teacher Jim Sparks about his experience? Trani has been VCU's greatest leader since the canny Hibbs, but one can't help but feel the Monroe and PM flaps are warnings that something has gone awry in the central administration.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5640358.post-16016204940045936962008-07-17T20:47:00.000-04:002008-07-17T20:47:00.000-04:00Dear anonymous commenters,Thank you for your contr...Dear anonymous commenters,<BR/><BR/>Thank you for your contributions. <BR/><BR/>Still, it's too bad you can't put your names behind what you are saying. I have to assume you have good reasons for that. <BR/><BR/>But when attacks are aimed at specific people, without the attackers being willing to reveal who they are, it has to make readers wonder about motives and credibility.F.T. Reahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02042465274190082050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5640358.post-88055474989994453732008-07-16T15:28:00.000-04:002008-07-16T15:28:00.000-04:00It is troubling, very troubling that up until now ...It is troubling, very troubling that up until now VCU hasn't released something more about who is responsible. If they can't release everything, they should release the position and the sanction. or just the sanctions. Their silence tells me that little if anything of substance was done. I'm disappointed that faculty members who are certainly in the know won't leak the info just so the story will do away.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5640358.post-9513115730466881852008-07-16T15:13:00.000-04:002008-07-16T15:13:00.000-04:00You're right - bigger doesn't mean better and VCU ...You're right - bigger doesn't mean better and VCU is growing too fast too soon. The quality of the students is lower than ever in my opinion. I am been very disappointed at the quality of some non-tenured teaching faculty (and the large number of them) and particularly at the lack of quality and maturity among the graduate school ranks. There are PHD students whom one might call dimwits and twits in the Wilder School. PHD programs at W&M and UVA require GREs, foreign language proficiency, and an expectation for true scholarship and community leadership after graduation - VCU requires none of this and consequently this crowd of kids can't measure up to other Virginia grad programs and won't at this rate. VCU graduate programs seem to have become a great place for parents to "park" their underachieving offspring until they grow up and figure out what they want to do (or find a husband among their classmates or the adjunct faculty! - which can be easily accomplished at the frequent happy hours instead of academically oriented offerings!). I expect at any moment one of them to say "Oh, professor so and so, you're just so totally coooooollllll. I hope you're coming to the graduate school keg party." So VCU is into "babysitting" instead of turning out scholars. Too bad. But not all together surprising. Just try to turn that MA or PHD into a real job - good luck with that McDonald's application. Oh, and BTW, I'm one of those grad school grads who thank God has an undergrad degree from one of those other respected VA schools.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5640358.post-44709156892350274582008-07-15T17:14:00.000-04:002008-07-15T17:14:00.000-04:00Faculty for many years have felt that Trani, despi...Faculty for many years have felt that Trani, despite his many genuine accomplishments, surrounds himself too frequently with mediocrities who never tell him anything is a bad idea. Regular faculty are afraid to criticize; nobody will go on the record with anything but a frozen smiley. (Tenure lines have decreased over all.) What we do know is that no tenured teaching faculty member signed off on the bogus degree--which was, as Trani himself admitted, done out of a misguided desire to please him. Trani's "ideas" have come down to a single imperative: GROW! This has meant a destruction of quality undergraduate education. Plans are afoot for classes in the 400-600 seat range.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5640358.post-15196088618300710052008-07-15T11:59:00.000-04:002008-07-15T11:59:00.000-04:00Actually, regarding Trani changing the Ackell marc...Actually, regarding Trani changing the Ackell march to the river through Oregon Hill: the State review process disallowed this poor planning option, not Trani- although Trani did state in a 1990's TD article that there would be no more VCU facilities built south of Cary. Please note that his pants might be on fire as the huge building site at Cherry and Cary for the new VCU rec center is gobbling up Oregon Hill at an alarming rate. VCU doesnt have to adhere to any authority now and it scares me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5640358.post-43888632022745463452008-07-11T15:49:00.000-04:002008-07-11T15:49:00.000-04:00anonymous (LDP),See my post at the Fan District Hu...anonymous (LDP),<BR/><BR/>See my post at the Fan District Hub -- http://fdhub.net/vcu-takes-action-on-monroe-degree-matter/F.T. Reahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02042465274190082050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5640358.post-33665251583900763852008-07-11T12:58:00.000-04:002008-07-11T12:58:00.000-04:00Since VCU has "taken action" in the Monroe matter ...Since VCU has "taken action" in the Monroe matter does this mean that the Director of the Wilder School was the one who was responsible?? Any word? LDPAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5640358.post-38044414209640044732008-07-10T14:15:00.000-04:002008-07-10T14:15:00.000-04:00Your wish is my command!!http://www.diversejobs.ne...Your wish is my command!!<BR/><BR/>http://www.diversejobs.net/candidate/processcandviewjob?docid=A2274-0A74&source=search<BR/><BR/>Change is on the way - hopefully in the form of someone who will do some major reforms in that school!!! 'bout time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5640358.post-3959316430591070352008-07-10T11:57:00.000-04:002008-07-10T11:57:00.000-04:00One negative - Trani has been so consumed with inc...One negative - Trani has been so consumed with increasing the size of the student body, some might argue that quality has been thrown out the window. Not that Monroe isn't a quality guy, but look at the quality (lack of) credits he was allowed to transfer in. Unfortunately the Wilder School - which has its hands all over this mess but won't own up to it - has really been dumbing down the quality all in the name of increasing enrollment to make the case for more funding - the school's namesake should say enough is enough before it all goes in the toilet.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5640358.post-83864241898036934722008-07-03T21:03:00.000-04:002008-07-03T21:03:00.000-04:00Anonymous 2:52 a.m,What "bad things" has Tranni do...Anonymous 2:52 a.m,<BR/><BR/>What "bad things" has Tranni done for Richmond? From where I sit, Tranni's tenure has led VCU in a direction that's been really good for Richmond neighborhoods north of Broad St. That doesn't even get into the revitalization of Broad St., west of Belvedere, which has been profound.<BR/><BR/>Additionally, why should Tranni resign unless he's done some damage to VCU? VCU has grown and flourished under his leadership. I understand that there are Richmonders who might disagree with some of his decisions, but what's that got to do with his relationship with the university? As long as he serves VCU well then I imagine he'll be welcome as their president, and sorely missed once he retires.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5640358.post-27101795532199541492008-07-03T21:01:00.000-04:002008-07-03T21:01:00.000-04:00I haven't seen it. It is not marble. I was told ...I haven't seen it. It is not marble. I was told it's bronze. I wonder if they will put it in front of the Trani Building? Or maybe on Monument Avenue!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5640358.post-46281767616383130212008-07-03T15:23:00.000-04:002008-07-03T15:23:00.000-04:00I've heard something about that sculpture. Have yo...I've heard something about that sculpture. Have you seen it? Do you know if it is actually bronze?F.T. Reahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02042465274190082050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5640358.post-87850592490193768742008-07-03T14:10:00.000-04:002008-07-03T14:10:00.000-04:00And before he retires VCU will unveil a life-sized...And before he retires VCU will unveil a life-sized bronze statue of him. Seriously!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5640358.post-24844475745877303192008-07-03T13:00:00.000-04:002008-07-03T13:00:00.000-04:00anonymous 2:52 a.m.,Trani is set to retire in 2010...anonymous 2:52 a.m.,<BR/><BR/>Trani is set to retire in 2010.F.T. Reahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02042465274190082050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5640358.post-85749911318629597652008-07-03T02:52:00.000-04:002008-07-03T02:52:00.000-04:00I disagree. I think Trani should retire.He's done ...I disagree. I think Trani should retire.<BR/><BR/>He's done a lot of bad things for Richmond too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5640358.post-9084082685574066072008-07-02T19:42:00.000-04:002008-07-02T19:42:00.000-04:00I work at VCU and I can confirm that his faculty a...I work at VCU and I can confirm that his faculty advisor is probably the one whom should be held accountable. The faculty advisor would have approved transfer credits, approved VCU classes, and signed off on his application for a degree. There's the smoking gun. I also know that Monroe went on to take graduate classes at VCU with some of the faculty members I know in his field of study - so he certainly had the time to complete the coursework necessary for his BA. This isn't Trani's fault - but he does need to come out with a stronger apology and explanation. And he needs to offer up the faculty member behind this for real justice. LDPAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5640358.post-76614042865375842692008-07-02T15:39:00.000-04:002008-07-02T15:39:00.000-04:00You're right on target with your sentiments on Tra...You're right on target with your sentiments on Trani. He has done so much to further VCU's reputation and enhance downtown. VCU would probably still be floundering in higher education backwater and downtown would be a ghost town. <BR/><BR/>I agree, he couldn't have known about this shady deal - he can't have his fingerprints on every degree. Someone thought that they would win over an impressive friend in the police chief and his powerful friends - unfortunately the "gift" they offered was something beyond anything mere money could buy - it was the blood, sweat, and tears that are required of EVERY OTHER of 15,000 grads of VCU, but not this special one. In my opinion Trani's not the bad guy here - it's the person who directly supervised this bogus degree.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com