The University of Alabama recently suspended two university-funded student magazines on its campus. This action was taken due to a memo issued by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi in July 2025.
Memo issued by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi in July 2025.
The two magazines, Nineteen Fifty-Six and [alice] were censored due to Bondi’s statements on “proxy organizations” that focus on specific groups on The University of Alabama’s campus. Bondi claims that these organizations aren't "inclusive" and discriminate against other groups.
Nineteen Fifty-Six was founded in 2020 with a focus on “Black culture, Black excellence and Black student experiences” at the University. The magazine earned its name from the year that The University of Alabama was integrated by its first Black student Autherine Lucy Foster. Foster spent three days at the University before she was expelled by its Board of Trustees.
Kendal Wright, Editor-in-Chief of Nineteen Fifty-Six, posted a statement to social media. It reads as follows:
The other defunded outlet, [alice] is The University of Alabama’s fashion and wellness magazine. Their website states that “Our mission is to help students learn how to feel comfortable in their journey of navigating college life during this transition from teen to adult years.”
Their magazine was founded in 2016.
[alice] Editor-in-Chief, Gabrielle Gunter, claims that there was no prior alert given to her on Monday before the University made their decision.
Gunter said that she joined [alice] as a hobby during her second semester in her junior year of undergrad. She's currently in graduate school in women's studies. She said that she was drawn to [alice] because she was an English major at the time and wanted to explore a new form of writing.
Upon finding out about the censorship, Gunter claimed that her staff was taken aback.
"They [The University of Alabama] told the editors-in-chief of both publications first, then at 5:00 p.m., we had an emergency meeting," Gunter said. "We [the staff of [alice]] were all pretty upset. Unfortunately, it's dead week, and there was only a four to five hour notice, so most of my staff was unable to attend."
A petition has been crested for the reinstatement of both magazines. The petition has over 1,000 signatures, with many signees leaving comments on their opinions of the censorship.
“I am disappointed that UA has suspended these magazines without even trying to provide the students with alternative journalism opportunities. It is an attack on free speech, and it is unfair,” one signee wrote.
Another signee wrote, “Alice and 1956 provide students with invaluable experience that helps them secure jobs after graduation. Without these publications, students’ ability to gain real-world publishing experience, and ultimately their chances of employment, would be significantly hindered.”
A third signee simply wrote, “Protect student journalism!”
When reflecting on the censorship, Gunter recalled that The University of Alabama is planning to form and publish a new lifestyle magazine, with the target audience being "for everyone."
Gunter shared that it was disheartening that [alice] was censored, especially after putting her work in for the last three years and to focus on founding something new. When it came to involvement in this founding of the new magazine, Gunter stated that she will not take part.
"I think that any space that wants to empower women's and any other marginalized group's voices are really, really important," Gunter said. "We're here to speak up for all students and that's important."
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Brychelle Brooks, senior majoring in public and professional writing with a minor in information systems, has been with The Auburn Plainsman since August 2023. She previously served as the Campus Reporter, Opinion Editor and Newsletter Editor. She is currently serving as the Editor-in-Chief.
