Dear Editor,
We are writing as members of the Barefield College of Arts & Sciences Leadership Board, but our views are our own, and we do not speak for the entire board.
The reason for this letter is to publicly state our concern about the manner in which the Alice and Nineteen Fifty-Six student publications were suspended in December of last year. The stated reason for the suspensions was a US Department of Justice memo containing “suggestions” for universities in eliminating “illegal proxies” for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) efforts.
Regardless of our views about the content of the magazines, we strongly disagree with the lack of transparency and accountability in the decision-making process and the precedent it sets for future decisions impacting students, staff and supporters of the University. In particular, the repeated requests to the UA President’s Office for clarification and reconsideration of the decision that have gone unanswered.
There appears to be no written University policy or articulated standards against which the magazines (and by extension other student groups, activities, or organizations) are evaluated as being illegal proxies for DEI.
The actual decision-making authority is nebulous. University staff who have been willing to engage have said they don’t even know who to ask for clarification on the decision.
There is no ability to appeal the decision or process for redress.
In the current environment, students, staff, and University supporters have no assurances that other student organizations will not be suspended as summarily as the two student publications were.
This incident has taken away opportunities for students to develop writing, communication, and advocacy skills in a manner that was arbitrary, capricious and unacceptable. While we understand the difficult political environment in which we currently find ourselves — and the very real fear that University administration must be feeling at the potential loss of funding based on “suggestions” that are not really suggestions — we strongly believe that University students, staff and supporters deserve better.
Kathy (Lawrence) Rondon graduated from The University of Alabama in 1989 with a BA degree in English. Brand L. Elverston graduated from The University of Alabama in 1984 with a BA degree in criminal justice. Both serve as members of the Barefield College of Arts and Sciences Leadership Board.
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