About a dozen University students and faculty delivered a petition to the Rose Administration Building on Friday asking UA President Peter Mohler to reinstate Nineteen Fifty-Six and Alice magazines.
In December, the University permanently shuttered the publications, citing a memo issued by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi last July that provided nonbinding suggestions for federal funds recipients to comply with antidiscrimination laws. Experts previously told The Crimson White that the suspensions likely violated the First Amendment.
Omorose Emwanta, a junior majoring in neuroscience and philosophy, said she believes members of the University should not let it make decisions that affect the campus community.
“If the University is willing to misinterpret executive orders like this, it threatens everyone here and all the happenings on campus,” she said.
The petition has amassed over 3,000 signatures online, as of publication. In December, students and faculty delivered a version of the petition to President Mohler.
“I really feel that the cornerstone of the University is academic free speech, critical inquiry and the courage to support the truth,” said Nirmala Erevelles, a professor in the College of Education. She added that she believes part of being a UA professor is supporting students in the change they want to create on campus.
Former members of Nineteen Fifty-Six and Alice have also filed a lawsuit against the University for shuttering the publications.
“The suspension of the magazines are very unjust given it is targeted at categories of students that have historically been ostracized on this campus already,” said Sammy Bignault, a junior majoring in political science.
Following the magazine closures, Masthead raised over $25,000 to publish the independent magazines Selene and Sixty-Three during the spring 2026 semester. Masthead has since launched another fundraiser to continue funding the publications for the 2026-2027 school year.
The University’s Office of Student Media has held several workshops regarding new publications sponsored by the University, aimed to represent “a variety of voices and perspectives.” The new magazine will potentially be released in Fall 2026.
Sara-Maria Sorentino, an associate professor in the Department of American Culture and Society, called the magazines being shut down and changes to tenure policy in the looming passage of Alabama House Bill 580 a “grave injustice.”
“My job, the things that I focus on and my students are under threat,” she said. “We need to be outspoken. We need to no longer be afraid, and we need to see the bigger picture for what this fight is all about.”
Erevelles said that she has a daughter who is Black and Indian and currently attends the University. She said she wants her daughter to have the opportunities that she had when came to the U.S. from India, and to the University in 2001.
“I let her stay at The University of Alabama because I thought there was potential,” she said. “I think there still is, because I still see [students] are potential. Potential is in the struggle.”
