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Note: This column is republished from The Washington Times.by James A. BaconA committee appointed by University of Virginia President Jim Ryan issued a statement this May outlining the university‘s policy on free speech. As befitting the university founded by Thomas Jefferson, a champion of individual liberties, the committee stated its unequivocal “commitment to free expression and free inquiry.”The statement of abstract ideals […]

Note: This column is republished from The Washington Times.by James A. BaconA committee appointed by University of Virginia President Jim Ryan issued a statement this May outlining the university‘s policy on free speech. As befitting the university founded by Thomas Jefferson, a champion of individual liberties, the committee stated its unequivocal “commitment to free expression and free inquiry.”The statement of abstract ideals

by James A. BaconThere was an old joke back during the Cold War. An American diplomat was talking to a Russian diplomat. The American diplomat praised the superiority of the American way of life: \”In our country, we are free to criticize President Reagan.\” To which the Russian diplomat replied, \”In our country, we are

by James A. BaconWalter Smith, a University of Virginia alumnus, was miffed when UVa leadership mandated that all students must be vaccinated if they are to return to the university in the fall. His daughter, a UVa student, had caught the COVID-19 virus, lived through 10 days of quarantine, acquired natural immunities, and was at

by James A. BaconWalter Smith, a University of Virginia alumnus, was miffed when UVa leadership mandated that all students must be vaccinated if they are to return to the university in the fall. His daughter, a UVa student, had caught the COVID-19 virus, lived through 10 days of quarantine, acquired natural immunities, and was at

by James A. BaconMy fellow members of The Jefferson Council and I are united in our determination to protect the Jeffersonian legacy at the University of Virginia, in particular to champion free speech and expression on the grounds. An internal debate we have is whether we should work with President James Ryan in advancing this

by James A. BaconThe University of Virginia Board of Visitors took another big step in purging its \”white supremacist\” past by voting Friday to take down the statue to George Rogers Clark. The Clark statue, critics say, perpetuates \”the myth of brave white men conquering a supposedly unknown and unclaimed land.\”The cost of removing, relocating

TO: All UVA Alumni and Friends Who Care About Our UniversityFROM: The Jefferson CouncilRE: We Are Losing the Soul of Our UniversityDATE: May 20, 2021On the eve of Final Exercises at our University, we, the founding members and Board of the Jefferson Council, feel the need to send out this letter regarding very troubling developments

by Walter SmithNext weekend is Finals (graduation in University of Virginia speak). The Class of 2021 class arrived at the University just after the traumatizing Unite the Right rally, lived through the backlash against Donald Trump, suffered through the suppression of unpopular conservative views, was afflicted with the Engagements requirements of the new curriculum, and