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 Nineteen Fifty-Six, a magazine run by student journalists that covers Black student life and culture, according to a report from The Crimson White. The university has also eliminated Alice Magazine, another student-run publication covering fashion and wellness with an emphasis on women.
Steven Hood, vice president of student life, recently told the staff of each magazine that the closure of Nineteen Fifty-Six and Alice Magazine was due to each outlet targeting a specific group based on race and sex, 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 Nineteen Fifty-Six and Alice Magazine 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.
Kendal Wright, editor-in-chief of Nineteen Fifty-Six, told The Crimson White, “This publication has cultivated incredibly talented and budding Black student journalists and brought our community on campus together in such a beautiful way.”
In response to the magazines’ closure, a petition was created calling on the university to reinstate Nineteen Fifty-Six and Alice Magazine
“It is imperative that we remain steadfast and recognize that our voices and stories cannot be silenced,” said Wright. “Not by any ruling, not by any memo, and not by anybody.”
