The Alabama Press Association Journalism Foundation is stunned by the recent decision by the University of Alabama to suspend the publication of two student magazines, citing that these publications were not in compliance with federal regulations of DEI initiatives and may be in violation of federal anti-discrimination laws.
The two magazines are Nineteen Fifty-Six, a publication focusing primarily on black students, and Alice, a magazine focusing on women’s issues.
The recent actions by the university’s leaders is a complete failure to act in the best interests of its students.
As an organization rooted in the First Amendment, the APA Journalism Foundation finds these actions contrary to the principles of the Constitution of our country.
These actions tell the students that you are not important, your voice doesn’t matter, and you cannot make a difference, so don’t even try.
The world needs more journalists, and those journalists must come from all walks of life with all sorts of experiences.
Silencing any voice is unacceptable and un-American. It is even more so when it is done by a public university.
Change often starts with a whisper, and we hope the university will reconsider this action and allow these publications to continue.
