University of Alabama shuts down Black, female student magazines

The University of Alabama has suspended two university-funded student magazines, citing a federal memo on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives issued by Attorney General Pam Bondi.

The publications — Alice, a fashion and wellness magazine that primarily covers women, and Nineteen Fifty-Six, a magazine that covers Black student life and culture — were launched in 2015 and 2020, respectively, according to the university’s student newspaper, the Crimson White.

“It is so disheartening to know that so many of us have put so much work into these magazines that are now being censored,” said Alice editor-in-chief Gabrielle Gunter. “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.”

Gunter told the New York Times that Alice was in the process of putting together its next issue when the team received the news.

Kendal Wright, editor-in-chief of Nineteen Fifty-Six, said she was “deeply saddened” by the university’s decision to suspend the magazine.

“This publication has cultivated incredibly talented and budding Black student journalists and brought our community on campus together in such a beautiful way,” Wright said.

In July, Bondi issued a memo in which she included recommendations on how institutions receiving federal funding could avoid what the Trump administration deemed unlawful practices, and said the Justice Department will “investigate, eliminate, and penalize illegal DEI and DEIA preferences, mandates, policies, programs, and activities in the private sector and in educational institutions that receive federal funds.”

Steven Hood, the university’s vice president of student life, told students that because the magazines target a specific audience, they are considered “unlawful proxies.” Hood said the movie was the university’s decision and had not been spurred by a complaint.

Hood invited the magazines’ editors to help create a new publication catering to all student identities.

Neither magazine had barred students from participation based on race or gender identity, and both hired staff who were not part of their target audience, according to the Crimson White.

“The University remains committed to supporting every member of our community and advancing our goals to welcome, serve, and help all succeed. In doing so, we must also comply with our legal obligations,” university spokesperson Alex House said in a statement to NewsNation, The Hill’s sister network. “This requires us to ensure all members of our community feel welcome to participate in programs that receive University funding from the Office of Student Media.”

House added that the university “will never restrict our students’ freedom of expression,” and that the First Amendment rights of the students remain “fully intact.”