The Common Sense Society, an international organization dedicated to championing liberty, prosperity and beauty, has awarded its Common Sense Courage Award to Bert Ellis, serial entrepreneur, president emeritus of The Jefferson Council, and member of the University of Virginia Board of Visitors.
“Bert has worked tirelessly to promote intellectual diversity in the face of a radical and intolerant ‘DEI’ agenda, to protect the UVA Lawn, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, against defacement, and to promote the UVA Honor System, which champions integrity and honesty in students,” stated the press release.
Common Sense cited the “unjustified smear campaign” unleashed against Ellis in local and national media.
“Bert has shown inspiring resolve against the anti-intellectual forces that are assaulting free speech and freedom of academic inquiry,” said CSS president and CEO Marion Smith. “He has pushed UVA to focus on teaching instead of indoctrinating, defended its beautiful and historic UVA Lawn, and stood resolute in the face of an unjustified smear campaign. We are happy to present Bert with the Common Sense Courage Award.”
“Integrity and rigorous debate are worth fighting for — they are vital elements in the effort to safeguard our liberties and raise a generation of leaders worth following,” said Bert Ellis. “I accept this award with great pride and determination to continue the fight alongside my friends at Common Sense Society.”
Past recipients of the award include Rosa María Payá, a Cuban human rights activist.
Bert’s only mistake has been to apologize for saying “numnuts” in private text messages about a UVA DEI obsessed architecture professor. The meltdown of outrage! He wasn’t collegial! Wanna bet UVA’s own skirts are dirty? How come UVA has withheld 34 texts between Jim Ryan and Whitt Clement? Do you think any other professors have used intemperate comments about Bert? Like white supremacist? Or racist? Hypocrites.
While Thomas Jefferson, the University’s founder, is being “cancelled”, even at the University itself, because he owned slaves and allegedly (but falsely) is accused or “raping” a slave for 38 years. What is he doing about that?.
He’s doing all he can. Until the BOV, of which he is a member, has Youngkin majority control they cannot force President Ryan to change the narrative. That occurs July 2024.
There has to be a change at the top. UVA needs a new president, as well as intellectual and ideological diversity among its Deans and faculty. That does not come overnight.
I am on record as predicting that Ryan will be gone in early to mid 2025, one way or another.
Great article, Jim. The award is well deserved. Bert has done an outstanding job, and has weathered the libelous attacks by the media with resolve and dignity.
Well earned, Bert. You speak for me,
among many others.
college ‘74
Congrats Bert, keep up the good fight’
Well deserved. Keep up the good fight Bert.