OPINION THE RECORD Education, politics and a tasteless display Wednesday, April 6, 2005 By JAMES AHEARN AS PLANNED, the party for John Petillo's inauguration as president of the state University of Medicine and Dentistry was going to set a New Jersey record for vulgar extravagance. Bear in mind that the university is a public institution, supported by taxes. Bear in mind that the State House is struggling to fill a $4 billion hole in the budget for next year. Against that background, consider that the university was going to spend $20,000 to rent the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in...