Thursday, March 10, 2011

Dina Titus Continues To Screw Nevada Taxpayers


First, that is a cool emblem for the UNLV College Republicans, no matter what political view you have.
Anyways, Dina Titus is at it again.
From the UNLV GOP: Just 24 hours after UNLV President Neal Smatresk proposed $32.6 million in cuts, which threaten to eliminate 33 major degree programs and 205 jobs from the fiscally strapped university, tenured professor and former congresswoman Dina Titus launched a new radio show on UNLV’s radio station. Titus described her show Tuesday, in an email blast from her former campaign website www.dinatitus.com to her supporters, as a discussion program featuring local leaders of business, industry and politics. But many people see this as a way for Dina Titus to stay in the minds of voters until she formally announces her candidacy again in 2012, paid for by UNLV.
"It’s outrageous that people are proposing to raise taxes while politician Dina Titus is drawing from UNLV an annual salary of nearly $108,000, plus all benefits and overhead support, while teaching one non-basic course this semester and laying the groundwork for her next political campaign with, among other things, a UNLV radio program," said Ron Knecht, member of the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents.
The UNLV College Republicans have been opposing Titus’ show on-and-off campus, as part of their crusade against budget cuts to academics. They believe that cuts are necessary in order for Governor Sandoval to fix Nevada’s budget crisis, but continue to demand that UNLV President Neal Smatresk cut waste and administrative costs before touching programs and departments.
"It is difficult to take President Smatresk seriously when he threatens to cut the philosophy department, but allows Dina Titus to host her own radio show instead of teaching more than one class this semester," said Mark Ciavola, president of the UNLV College Republicans.
Of course, when your radio show has 5 listeners, it probably is not a big deal. But the college Republicans are correct- Titus has a fluff job and she needs to be in the classroom more than two times a week. In addition, she needs to teach more students than 39 that are in her class. If she is that popular and has a brilliant mind (questionable), then shouldn't she pass her wisdom on to more people?
Finally, what is the purpose of UNLV's radio station? To serve the needs of a politician who is unethical and a blatant liar? Or for students who want to learn how to be the next Rush Limbaugh or Ed Schultz? Further, how many tax dollars are spent in running the radio station?
My guess is that it should be the students operating, running and hosting the show, not an unethical politician.

1 comment:

  1. Even though I am not a Republican, I often find myself in disbelief at the amount of money some of UNLV's professors and administrative staff make. Taking from the common everyman won't help either so long as the top administrative positions continue to make 6-figures while the assistant and associate professors get laid off. While I value our goal to be a research institution and fully support those professors who teach minimal classes or go on sabbatical in order to produce published research, my own experience with Titus' teaching is one similar to what is described in this piece.

    P.S. That is an awesome logo indeed

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