Birmingham-Southern College changed his life. Now, this student is fighting to save the school 

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In the wake of a denied loan, students at Birmingham-Southern College are continuing to advocate on behalf of the beloved historic institution. We spoke with Matt Dale, a current senior, to learn why Birmingham-Southern College is worth fighting for.

Want to join the fight to save Birmingham-Southern College? Answer The Call to Action for BSC by reaching out to your local and state representatives and help write The Next Chapter of Birmingham-Southern College by donating today.

Growing up with Birmingham-Southern College

Born and raised in Bush Hills—the neighborhood in which Birmingham-Southern College resides—Matt Dale was exposed to the College at an early age.

“Growing up, I came to Birmingham-Southern College often for camps and tournaments through Northstar Soccer Ministries. My first coaches—Coach Ben and Coach Andrew—were both athletes at Birmingham-Southern and were very active in my life. Birmingham-Southern has always been one of those things that’s always been in my life.”

Matt Dale, Senior, Birmingham-Southern College

Dale’s early exposure to soccer ignited a lifelong passion for the sport, which he continued to play throughout high school. However, a torn ACL in his junior year took him off the recruiting list for several D1 colleges.

“After I recovered, I went to a soccer camp and met Coach Corey from Birmingham-Southern. He told me that I had a promising future and I had the chance to do something great at Birmingham-Southern College. That was exactly what I needed to hear at that time—I needed someone that was willing to invest in me as both a person and a player.”

Matt Dale, Senior, Birmingham-Southern College

Getting a world-class education at the Hilltop

Thanks to the words of Coach Corey, Matt decided to attend Birmingham-Southern. Despite starting his college career during the height of COVID-19 restrictions, Matt was confident that he made the right choice.

“Going to college during a pandemic was really weird, but the Birmingham-Southern staff went above and beyond to make sure we got our college experience while staying safe. When I caught COVID-19, Birmingham-Southern provided quarantine housing for me. Since I live with my family and we take care of my grandparents, quarantine housing helped me keep my family safe. I am very grateful for how Birmingham-Southern found ways to meet the needs we had as students during that time.”

Matt Dale, Senior, Birmingham-Southern College

At Birmingham-Southern, Matt began studying biology as a stepping stone to a career in dentistry. However, his courses in Black Studies opened his eyes to a new career path.

“As I started to change, I realized I wanted to focus more on social injustices. I’m so grateful to have discovered that subject, because now I use Black Studies as a lens through which I live and see the world. Through that lens and my major in biology, I am led towards a career in public health.”

Matt Dale, Senior, Birmingham-Southern College

After graduating from Birmingham-Southern, Matt plans to pursue a Master of Public Health and a Ph.D. in African-American Studies. Ultimately, he hopes to return to Birmingham-Southern as a professor.

“I think what makes Birmingham-Southern such a special place is that we’ve developed the ability to both critique and love a place at the same time. Global human rights activist Angela Davis talks about that—embracing the contradiction. We know we want to grow—as a person, the student body and as an institution—so we have to critique and challenge ourselves out of love to grow. This is fostered by the way our teachers allow us to formulate ideas. The ability to simultaneously critique and love is something that Birmingham-Southern instills in each student, and that is where true growth comes from. I think it separates Birmingham-Southern from a lot of other schools.”

Matt Dale, Senior, Birmingham-Southern College

Joining the fight to save Birmingham-Southern College

In late 2022, President Daniel Coleman announced that Birmingham-Southern College needed temporary financial support while rebuilding the college’s endowment. Like the majority of his classmates, Matt wrote letters to local and state politicians, urging them to support the college.

“Although some people transferred after the announcement, the students who stayed at Birmingham-Southern College want to be here. We are all dedicated to the building of Birmingham-Southern—we truly are all in this together.”

Matt Dale, Senior, Birmingham-Southern College

After months of effort, supporters of the college breathed a sigh of relief when the Distressed Institutions of Higher Learning Revolving Loan Fund Act—passed by a bipartisan legislature—was signed into law by Governor Kay Ivey. The law allowed the State of Alabama to lend qualifying institutions up to $30M—exactly the amount Birmingham-Southern needed to stay afloat while rebuilding its endowment.

Despite the College meeting each qualification, the loan was denied by Alabama State Treasurer Young J. Boozer III. After the announcement, Matt and dozens of impassioned students traveled to Montgomery to meet with Boozer. Although the Treasurer refused to attend the meeting, the students took turns speaking on behalf of the College on the steps of the Alabama State Capitol.

“In my Black Studies classes, I learned that Angela Davis once said that resistance doesn’t have to be something monumental; everyone can do their part to make a change through small acts of micro-resistance. So what can I do? If my voice can help others understand how impactful Birmingham-Southern is, then I’m willing to do share my story and perspective as much as it takes.

Matt Dale, Senior, Birmingham-Southern College

At the Capitol, Matt shared how Birmingham-Southern has been a pillar of love and dedication throughout his life. In addition, he noted that the closure of the College would displace hundreds of students and faculty, leave a vacancy in the heart of Birmingham and stunt the growth of the city as a whole.

Matt’s story caught the attention of several news outlets and Coach Corey Smith—the coach who recruited Matt to the college all those years ago.

“When the articles about our trip to Montgomery came out, Coach Corey sought me out and told me, ‘It might not be soccer, but you are making a difference at this school.’ For me, that was a full circle moment—Coach Corey believed in me from day one, and now it’s paying off.”

Matt Dale, Senior, Birmingham-Southern College

You can join the fight to save Birmingham-Southern College

The loss of Birmingham-Southern College—recently ranked #9 in the Top Liberal-Arts Colleges in the South by the Wall Street Journal—would have a terrible economic, social and educational impact on the city of Birmingham and Alabama as a whole.

“I encourage all supporters of Birmingham-Southern to continue advocating on behalf of the college—whether it’s writing letters, calling your representatives or other methods approved by the College.”

Matt Dale, Senior, Birmingham-Southern College

On November 28, 2023, the Birmingham City Council approved a $2.5 million loan at 10 percent interest that will be forgiven when the College opens in fall 2024, and another $2.5 million loan to be repaid over 20 years at a 1 percent interest rate. 

The city’s commitment initiates an additional $2.5 million investment from the United Methodist Church’s North Alabama Conference Board of Pension and Health Benefits, which was announced on Nov. 9 and was contingent upon the city’s participation of up to $5 million.

Answer The Call to Action for BSC by reaching out to your local and state representatives and help write The Next Chapter of Birmingham-Southern College by donating today.

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