The baseball team at Birmingham-Southern College, a private liberal arts school in Alabama, is set to play in the DIII College World Series on May 31. Despite facing financial challenges and closing on May 31, the Panthers defeated Denison University 7-6 on Saturday to secure their spot in the series.
The college, established in 1918 through a merger of Southern University and Birmingham College, has faced higher operating costs and lower revenues during the COVID-19 pandemic. The loss of anticipated revenue from dormitory housing and meal plans, combined with ongoing inflation in the country, has only worsened the situation for the college. Despite efforts to secure a $30 million loan from the state, Alabama treasurer Young Boozer III citing that taxpayer money should not be used to bail out a private college. The blame for the college’s financial woes was placed on the management and board of trustees, leading to the board’s decision to vote for closure in March.
However, despite these challenges, students at Birmingham-Southern have rallied around their baseball team by creating a GoFundMe page that has raised over $59,000 in donations as of mid-afternoon on Sunday. These funds will go towards covering travel expenses for the team and purchasing championship rings.
Looking ahead, colleges are facing uncertain times with enrollment numbers declining due to a decrease in birth rates during the Great Recession. This decline is expected to continue until 2037 when there will be an enrollment cliff that will impact colleges across the United States. With colleges competing for a smaller pool of applicants and athletic programs becoming more expensive to operate due to compensating athletes becoming a reality, schools may look towards public assistance from their states in order to stay afloat financially.
Despite these challenges ahead, it’s clear that students at Birmingham-Southern are determined to support their baseball team’s success on and off the field.
