University Actions
The University of Alabama has announced the suspension of two student-run publications, Alice magazine and Nineteen Fifty-Six magazine. This decision comes in response to recent federal guidance from Attorney General Pam Bondi regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives on college campuses.
Alice magazine, which focused on women’s issues, and Nineteen Fifty-Six magazine, dedicated to Black students, were both suspended effective immediately on Monday.
Officials from the university cited guidance issued in July by Bondi concerning DEI programs at federally funded institutions as the basis for this action.
Alice magazine had been in circulation for a decade and recently celebrated its anniversary before facing closure. Nineteen Fifty-Six is named after the year Autherine Lucy Foster became the first Black student to enroll at the university and has been published for five years.
Despite their specific target audiences, neither publication imposed restrictions on who could join their staff. University Vice President Steven Hood informed editors that these magazines might be breaching federal guidelines related to “unlawful proxies” due to their focus areas.
Gabrielle Gunter, editor-in-chief of Alice magazine, expressed her disbelief regarding the suspension, asserting that she believed both publications were safeguarded by freedom of the press and First Amendment rights.
The university has indicated plans to establish a new student magazine with a broader focus while maintaining that students’ First Amendment rights will continue to be upheld.
