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Bert Ellis threatens to “raise hell with the BOV” in text messages to Board members, U.Va. officials

Text messages are also aimed at U.Va. administrators and student groups

By Ava MacBlane and Lexi Baker
February 23, 2023

Board of Visitors member Bert Ellis anticipates a “battle royale” over the soul of the University, per texts obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request by author and transparency advocate Jeff Thomas, who shared the documents with The Cavalier Daily.

“This is going to be a battle royale for the soul of UVA and a microcosm of what must happen across America to save the soul of our country,” Ellis wrote after an individual congratulated him on his appointment to the Board. “We need to build this into a big Army to fight agst [sic] the UVA Adm [sic].”

In over 20 pages of texts between Ellis and various other members of the Board and University officials, Ellis is largely unfiltered in critiques of everything from the behavior of upper-level administrators to the University Guide service.

Many of the texts — a large majority of which were sent prior to Ellis attending his first Board meeting in August — include fellow Board members Stephen Long, Amanda Pillion and Doug Wetmore, all of whom were appointed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin July 1. ... “We have to raise hell with the [Board] about this whole ‘Get Jefferson’ movement by [The Cavalier Daily] and the super liberal faculty,” Ellis said to Wetmore Aug. 26, four days after their first Board meeting.

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Ellis had not responded to a request for comment at the time of publication.

Avery Donmoyer contributed reporting to this article.