Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, April 7, 1991                   TAG: 9104070144
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short

TRANI INAUGURATED AS PRESIDENT OF VCU

In his inaugural speech, Trani called higher education the "greatest ongoing social experiment," and said the urban university "holds some of the keys to a new direction."

Trani said he feels grateful and blessed to serve as VCU's president, despite his preoccupation with budget cuts since taking office.

"I would rather be nowhere else," he said in his prepared remarks. "The truth is, in the crisis I sense opportunity despite the painfulness of the moment - a new path which we can travel together."

At the inauguration, Gov. Douglas Wilder said Virginia Commonwealth University will have to expand its campus.

"With nearly 22,000 students and worsening shortages of space, common sense dictates that the university will have to expand if it is to adequately provide the services and instruction which students and faculty demand and rightfully deserve," Wilder said.

Wilder praised Trani's efforts to involve more people and to build relationships with the VCU community, and the new president's skill at attempting to resolve controversy that has arisen over expansion.

On July 1, Trani, 51, a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., succeeded Edmund Ackell. He previously was a vice president for academic affairs and professor of history at the University of Wisconsin.