Upcoming Events
An Evening With Allen West
The Jefferson Council and Young America's Foundation present "An Evening With Allen West" on Tuesday, October 7 at 7pm in Minor 125.
Retired Lt. Col. Allen West is a combat veteran, speaker, and former member of Congress. He was raised in the same Atlanta neighborhood where MLK once preached. West served honorably for 22 years in the U.S. Army; he later continued his service to our country in the House of Representatives, known for his bold leadership and commitment to constitutional principles. After leaving Congress, he continued to advocate for limited government, individual liberties, and American ideals through various platforms and as a public speaker. West remains an influential figure, inspiring others with his unwavering dedication to freedom, justice, and national security.
An evening with Xi Van Fleet
Join us on September 25th at UVA to hear the inspiring story of Xi Van Fleet. She is a survivor of Mao’s Cultural Revolution and a passionate voice for freedom, individual rights, and American values. After immigrating to the United States from communist China, she has dedicated herself to educating others about the dangers of totalitarian ideology. Xi gained national attention for her courageous testimony before a Virginia school board, warning against Marxist indoctrination in education. Her compelling personal story and powerful message serve as a reminder for Americans to safeguard liberty and resist authoritarianism in all its forms.
Inside FIRE’s 2026 Rankings: Free Speech at UVA
Join us for a timely conversation with Connor Murnane of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) as he walks us through the newly released 2026 College Free Speech Rankings.
This annual survey, the largest of its kind, captures the state of free expression on campuses across the country. Which universities are leading the way? Which are falling behind? And what do these rankings reveal about the culture of open inquiry in higher education today?
Connor will highlight the most significant findings, explain the methodology behind the rankings, and take your questions on what this means for students, alumni, and faculty who care about protecting academic freedom.
Don’t miss this chance to hear directly from FIRE as the new rankings are released.
UVA Celebration of free speech and civil discourse in honor of Charlie Kirk
In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, we are inviting student groups across the University of Virginia—and all members of our community—to come together for an event that honors the core values he championed: free speech, open inquiry, and civil discourse.
Event Details
When: Tuesday, September 23
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Location: Old Cabell Hall
This gathering is nonpartisan and open to all. Our goal is not to agree on every issue, but to model how a university community can disagree well.
If you are local, this is an especially meaningful reason to be back on Grounds—standing together to affirm the principles that make the university strong.
An Evening With Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears
Join us in the Rotunda Dome room for a memorable evening with Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, a trailblazing leader and the first woman of color to hold the office of Lt. Governor in Virginia.
TJC Fourth Annual Meeting
Tickets are still on sale! The Jefferson Council’s Fourth Annual Meeting will be held on April 8, 2025 at Alumni Hall from 3:00 PM - 9:00 PM. Register now!
Yeonmi Park: Save the date
Born in North Korea, human rights activist Yeonmi Park grew up in a punishing society devoted to the worship of Kim Jong-Il. But at the age of 13, she and her family made a daring escape to China in search of a life free of tyranny. In her viral talks, Park urges audiences to recognize—and resist—the oppression that exists in North Korea, and around the world.
Come hear Yeonmi’s triumph of freedom over communism.
Civil Conversations About Hate Crimes and Hoaxes: How UVA Can be an Intellectual Diversity Leader
The Jefferson Council looks forward to co-hosting Wilfred Reilly on Grounds alongside our friends Young Americans for Freedom this December 5 to hear his insights on the compelling need for a return to civil discourse, followed by a time of Q&A from UVA students, faculty, administration, and TJC members.
Academic Anarchy: What to Expect on Campus This Year
Bestselling satirical author Scott Johnston dives into the culture war that is tearing campuses apart across the US and offers recommendations on what students can do to prepare for the new semester at UVA.
Minority Opinion: Save This Institution
University of Virginia sociology professor Brad Wilcox represents a minority opinion from Grounds when answering the question: What’s the recipe for happiness?
A Conversation with "Campusland" Author Scott Johnston
Author Scott Johnston joins The Jefferson Council for a reception to discussion what is happening on college campuses today—and what we're doing about it.
How The Open-Government Movement Can Revolutionize Public Policy At UVA
OpenTheBooks CEO Adam Andrzejewski discusses how much student and taxpayer money is being spent on ideological projects and staff at the University of Virginia.
Citizen Journalism and Competing Ideas on UVA Grounds
Citizen journalist Stu Smith discusses the condition of free speech on university campuses across the US, why it’s important to capture and distribute multiple sides of each story, and what this looks like in practice at the University of Virginia.
Third Annual meeting of The Jefferson Council
The Jefferson Council devoted our 2024 Annual Meeting to exploring the theme of governance at UVA.
Sabato's Crystal Ball 25th Anniversary Edition
The Jefferson Council was proud to sponsor The Center for Politics’s gala celebrating Larry Sabato’s 50th year with the University of Virginia.
The Meltdown of the Universities and Ideas for Rebuilding Them
The Jefferson Council was pleased to co-host an evening discussion with social psychologist Jonathan Haidt on several interacting causes of the free speech implosion on higher ed campuses across the United States.
DEI and the Death of Merit
The Jefferson Counci was honored to co-host a night of discussion with Heather Mac Donald, author of The Diversity Delusion: How Race and Gender Pandering Corrupt the University and Undermine Our Culture.
An Evening with Abigail Shrier at UVA
The Jefferson Council and Common Sense Society hosted a night of discussion with Abigail Shrier, an award-winning author and renowned scholar of transgenderism and its impact on society.
Inside Negotiations on the World Stage
The Jefferson Council was pleased to offer future diplomatic leaders the chance to hear directly from one of our nation’s premier contemporary statesmen, former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, at the University of Virginia.
The Bad Ideas Fueling Today's Attack On The Best Idea: Free Speech
The Jefferson Council and UVA Center for Politics proudly hosted George Will at the University of Virginia for an evening of discussion on the bad ideas fueling today’s best idea: free speech.
Second Annual Meeting of The Jefferson Council
The Jefferson Council is pleased to host our Second Annual Meeting featuring keynote speaker Glenn Loury, professor of economics at Brown University
Can We Still Speak Freely?
Common Sense Society and The Jefferson Council hosted a discussion with bestselling author Douglas Murray on free speech and Thomas Jefferson at the University of Virginia.
Peace and Chaos in America
Kellyanne Conway joined Young America's Foundation and The Jefferson Council to present special message at the University of Virginia on how you can restore peace and prosperity in America.
How to Save America
United States Vice President Mike Pence joined The Jefferson Council and Young America’s Foundation live at the University of Virginia to present his recommendations on how we can restore America’s founding principles.
Inaugural Annual Meeting of The Jefferson Council
The inaugural annual meeting of The Jefferson Council brought together alumni, students, faculty members, and parents in support of free speech, intellectual diversity, and the Jeffersonian tradition.
In Defense of Thomas Jefferson
The Jefferson Council and Young America's Foundation co-hosted University of Virginia alumni Rep. Chip Roy and Rich Lowry at the university that owes its very existence to Thomas Jefferson to present a unique, compelling, and much-needed defense of the founding father.