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National Trounce on Trani Month

What is this, trounce on Gene Trani month?

The New York Times unloaded on Virginia Commonwealth University , and by implication the school's president Eugene Trani, last week when it concocted a story about VCU's "secretive" research contract with Philip Morris USA . (See " NY Times Slimes VCU .") Now Style Weekly has followed up with a short article, describing Trani's "deep" connections to the tobacco industry by highlighting his membership on the Universal Corp. board of directors.

Philip Morris "gave" VCU $1.3 million last year, Style writes. "But Trani, VCU's president, has gotten more from the tobacco than a million bucks. In fact, Trani is the tobacco industry."

Huh?

As a member of the Universal board of directors, Trani receives a retainer of $40,000, including stock options, plus a fee of $2,000 for each board meeting he attends and $1,500 for committee meetings. Universal is a global trader and processor of tobacco leaf.

And the implication is…?

"I don't see any connection between these two," university spokesperson Pam Lepley told Style . "And his being on the board doesn't really pertain to the university."

Lepley was too mild. First of all, Philip Morris didn't "give" VCU $1.3 million. It paid VCU $1.3 million for research services. Second of all, the research money was paid to VCU, not Trani personally. Third of all, the statement that Trani "is" the tobacco industry is ludicrous on its face. If anything, Gene Trani "is" VCU.

Look, it's the media's role to hold the rich and powerful to account. If you want to criticize Gene Trani, be my guest. While the VCU president can lay claim to significant achievements, he's not above reproach. But find something substantive to write about. Describe Trani's top-down management style and how it bottlenecks university decision-making in the president's office. Discuss VCU's latest out-sized tuition hikes. Show how VCU has thrown its weight around in its dealings with the City of Richmond. Whatever. You'll find plenty of material to work with.  But, please, don't spin something out of nothing.