Dina Titus responds to UNLV College Republicans’ attacks

By Delen Goldberg

Tuesday, April 26, 2011 | 5:18 p.m.

After months of keeping quiet, Dina Titus hit back this week at UNLV College Republicans who are running a campaign against her.

"I just thought it was time the facts got out there," Titus told the Sun. "I think they have not been telling the truth."

After losing re-election last fall to Republican Rep. Joe Heck, Titus, a Democrat, returned to teaching political science at UNLV. Within weeks, the College Republicans launched a vicious campaign against her, criticizing her course load and campus radio show and accusing her of using university resources to further her political career.

Five months later, the attacks continue.

Matthew Jarzen, former president of the College Republicans, last week wrote an editorial in the UNLV Rebel Yell rehashing the College Republicans' claims that Titus cheated at a debate, receives an unfair salary and has an unusually light workload.

It was the last attack Titus took quietly. She wrote a rebuttal letter to the editor four days later.

In it, she accused the College Republicans of violating university policy by leaving pamphlets disparaging her in the Student Union and said the group has its facts wrong.

"Until now I have chosen to ignore their misguided actions, thinking they would grow tired of attacking me since I am no longer a candidate or an elected official and would instead devote their time and energy to something productive like opposing cuts to higher education," Titus wrote. "But because The Rebel Yell continues to give them unwarranted attention, thereby perpetuating their false charges and untruths, I feel compelled to respond."

Titus said she does not earn $100,000 to teach one class, as her critics allege.

In reality, Titus earns $107,855 annually. This semester she will take home $53,958 for teaching one class, hosting a radio show and collaborating with the Black Mountain Institute.

Titus also disputed the College Republicans' claims that her radio show is a front to promote her next campaign.

"The show is not political; and as the topic changes from week to week, it takes a lot of time and effort to get up to speed on subjects as diverse as human rights, urban planning in 19th century Paris, nuclear policy, the Vietnam War and Shakespeare," Titus wrote.

Titus again stressed that she is not a candidate. But she has said in the past that she is leaving all of her options open, and she is widely believed to be considering another Congressional run.