In an effort to comply with a federal memo sent by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi in July, the University of Alabama has eliminated Alice Magazine, a publication run by students that covers fashion and wellness with an emphasis on women, according to a report from The Crimson White. The university has also eliminated Nineteen Fifty-Six, another student-run magazine covering Black student life and culture.
“It is so disheartening to know that so many of us have put so much hard work into these magazines that are now being censored,” said Gabrielle Gunter, editor-in-chief of Alice Magazine. “Alice is what got me into journalism, and it breaks my heart that there will no longer be spaces like Alice and Nineteen Fifty-Six where students can learn to create beautiful, diverse magazines that honor all types of identities.”
Steven Hood, vice president of student life, recently told the staff of each magazine that the closure of Alice Magazine and Nineteen Fifty-Six was due to each outlet targeting a specific group based on sex and race, respectively. Notably, neither magazine had received any complaints regarding their content.
The following day, a university spokesperson said the university is required to “ensure all members of our community feel welcome to participate in programs that receive university funding from the Office of Student Media.”
However, although Alice Magazine and Nineteen Fifty-Six focus their content on specific populations, neither publication barred participation based on personal characteristics, with both outlets hiring staff who were not part of their target audiences.
In response to the magazines’ closure, a petition was created calling on the university to reinstate Alice Magazine and Nineteen Fifty-Six.
“It is imperative that we remain steadfast and recognize that our voices and stories cannot be silenced,” said Kendal Wright, editor-in-chief of Nineteen Fifty-Six. “Not by any ruling, not by any memo, and not by anybody.”