Students Sue University of Alabama Over Suspension of Magazines for Women, Black Students

A group of University of Alabama students has sued the school in federal court over the suspension of two magazines that were predominantly by and for women and Black students.

As the Thread previously reported, the University stripped funding from and ceased publication of Nineteen Fifty-Six and Alice magazines, citing a memo from US Attorney General Pam Bondi.

The non-binding memorandum banned diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at colleges and universities across the country that receive federal funding.

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Alice magazine is a 10-year-old publication by and for college women at UA, and Nineteen Fifty-Six was launched five years ago to tell "the stories of present and past Black students at the University of Alabama."

Both publications welcome participation and readership from students beyond their target demographics.

With funding raised by the student media alumni group MASTHEAD, both magazines are producing new editions without UA support.

On Monday, a group of students sued UA, represented by the Legal Defense Fund, the ACLU of Alabama, and the Southern Poverty Law Center.

The student plaintiffs include students who contributed to both publications before December 2025.

"I believe that freedom of expression on campus should neither be censored nor restricted because of its perceived value or audience,” said Rihanna Pointer, a student plaintiff in the case. “Nineteen Fifty-Six and Alice have always provided a platform for diverse voices and perspectives that are vital for fostering an inclusive community amongst students on campus, and I have always advocated for diversity of thought and representation through my writing. That’s why I believe that the University’s suspension of the magazines must be reversed."

Another student paintiff, Gabrielle Gunter, echoed those sentiments.

"The ability to create and contribute to spaces that amplify the voices of college students who hold identities that are typically not reflected in campus media is not only important but necessary work,” said Gunter, a student plaintiff in the case. “Marginalized students deserve the opportunity to participate in magazines and have access to the same resources and support that other publications have to create opportunities for engagement, discussion, and exploration on a wide array of issues. Discrimination based on the views of students who seek to create inclusive media for all students has no place in our society, so it's really important to me to keep fighting for what is right."

Their lawsuit alleges that UA's decision violates their First Amendment rights and that the Bondi memo did not require suspending the magazines solely because of their editorial perspectives.

The 31-page lawsuit is against all members of the University of Alabama Board of Trustees. It seeks preliminary and permanent injunctions restraining UA from suspending Alice and Nineteen Fifty-Six and terminating their funding.

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