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It has been a busy week at BSC, and I want to give you a few updates as we enter the weekend.
We continue to work closely with elected officials and our Montgomery allies on our proposal for bridge funding. As with all political matters, these negotiations take time and involve many moving parts. We have encountered significant support for our plan among members of the Legislature.
Media attention continues, including another set of guest opinions in publications across the state. Op-eds by BSC Trustees Dr. J. Kevin Tucker ’86 and The Rev. Dr. David Saliba ’03 ran in the Monroe Journal and the Dothan Eagle, and a guest opinion by Kendal Weaver ’66 ran in the Montgomery Advertiser. We also spotted a nice guest opinion by George Bradford, Jr., on al.com.
A Thursday story on al.com reported that providing public funding for Birmingham-Southern College would establish a new precedent. I want you to know that is simply not the case. There is long-standing precedent in favor of public dollars being appropriated to private entities. It happens every year, with funds going to entities deemed to be in the public interest.
Section 73 of the Alabama Constitution expressly provides for the Legislature to be able to “appropriate funds to private charitable and educational institutions not under the control of the State.” Those are the facts, which we hope you will share with others as you continue to advocate for one-time bridge funding from the State of Alabama as part of a broader financial solution.
We have commissioned an economic impact report by an independent resource that we expect to have in hand next week. Preliminary numbers make a powerful statement about what the College contributes to the Birmingham area economy and what our alumni contribute as they live, work, serve, and pay taxes in all 67 of Alabama’s counties. Be on the lookout for more information on that report in the coming days.
On Thursday, Feb. 16, Rep. Juandalynn Givan – who represents the Alabama House district in which BSC sits – will host a town hall at 6 p.m. at Parker High School focused on the BSC funding request. The event is open to the public, and we expect media coverage. Alumni, students, parents, faculty, and staff are welcome to attend; wear BSC gear or BSC colors to show your support.
Last Monday, our Young Alumni Council hosted a webinar on “How to Effectively Communicate with Elected Officials” led by Hillary Beard ’12, Chief of Staff to U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, and Robyn Gulley ’20, Rep. Sewell’s legislative aide, both of whom know what works and what doesn’t. We encourage you to use this information and the key messages on the BSC Forward page as you keep up the contact with your representatives and Gov. Kay Ivey. We’ll add the economic impact information to the BSC Forward page, which will give you fresh talking points for ongoing communication.
Here on campus, our application numbers are still above the five-year average, which demonstrates that prospective students and parents want what BSC offers. Our swimming and diving teams are competing this weekend for the conference championship at the Birmingham CrossPlex. Meetings with students and faculty advisors have begun, and we are highlighting Creativity this month as part of our Year of the Gingko focus.
We will continue to keep you updated on our progress toward financial resilience.
Forward, Ever!
Daniel B. Coleman
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